What is Mind Mapping
Mind Maps are used to represent information and ideas in a visual form that the mind finds easier to remember. A central image or theme is located at the centre of the Mind Map and topics and subtopics are arranged around that central theme or topic.
Whether you want to plan, organize, memorize or be creative Mind Mapping is the most effective note taking technique and there are now a number of different Mind Mapping software tools available to facilitate the creation of Mind Maps.
Why use Mind Maps
Mind Mapping provides a quick method of generating new ideas, organizing and summarizing the information that matters and are much more efficient then normal notes when organizing information that you later want to review before an exam. They can also be used to facilitate creativity, decision making and problem solving.
They are a great tool when revising for exams as they enable you to see how the different topics and concepts are associated and provide visual cues which are great for quickly reviewing a subject before an exam and recalling information that would normally be lost from your long term memory.
How to revise for exams using Mind Maps
When revising for an exam it is best to determine what level of knowledge you have of that subject before you start. When you build upon that knowledge it will be easier to develop associations and connection from the knowledge you have already gained. Therefore create a Mind Map of what you already know. You may be surprised at how much you can recall.
First obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software draw or add a central image at the centre of the page. Make it stand out with colour. Then Create branches from that central image for the main subtopics related to that central topic. The main topics should be written in larger text and highlight the most important areas. Add sub-branches by creating more branches emanating from the main topics. These subtopics should contain more in depth information and keywords or short phrases summarizing key ideas that you can recall from memory. Try and see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.
Linear note taking is monotonous and boring. The key information does not stand out, they take longer to write and do not provide a quick way of summarizing the important information needed for an exam. Mind Maps highlight the important information by placing it nearer the centre in larger writing with images that can quickly sum up a key idea or topic. Try and sum up information with a few words or even better 1 keyword or image. Use plenty of colour and images. Organize the information like this helps you to build associations and is very usefully when you want to recall information at a glance.
When you believe you have recalled as much of the topic as possible then speed read books related to your subject so that you can quickly determine the different categories that the topic is composed of. Don't forget to look at the content pages of the books to get a broad summary of the different sub-topics and elements of the subject you are studying. This will help you to focus on the most important information when reading the subject in greater detail.
Give priority to those books that provide the most usefully and comprehensive information for study and exam revision and study them in greater depth.
Add more branches to your Mind Map and continue to add the key information after reading each section of the book. These keywords, images and phrases should sum up the main topics and subtopics.
Attempting to recall and write down what you have just read will greatly assist in reinforcing that information and will assist recall later by helping to absorb the information into your long term memory. It will also enable you to adjust your methods if you are finding it difficult to recall what you have just read.
Don't forget to keep adding to your Mind Map after gaining knowledge that you consider important for the exam. Your Mind Map should become larger over time and more branches should be created moving even further from the central topic. Your Mind Map should become more detailed so make sure you use a large sheet of paper. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed. Keep reviewing your Mind Map every few days to reinforce the information you have learned.
When you get closer to the exam you should be able to recall in detail the knowledge gained by glancing at your Master Mind Map which should now contain a detailed summary of an entire subject or topic.
As already stated the Mind works best with the use of Images and by creating associations between related information. Also the most important information will stand out and you will not have to read through tons of notes to find the key information. The Mind Map will also have assisted your ability to remember by helping you to recall and review this information.
The Mind remembers best when it can see a subject from a broader perspective and visualise how the different topics and sub-topics are associated and ordered. Combine this with the images which give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto you have the most effective method for learning and recall.
Mind Maps are used to represent information and ideas in a visual form that the mind finds easier to remember. A central image or theme is located at the centre of the Mind Map and topics and subtopics are arranged around that central theme or topic.
Whether you want to plan, organize, memorize or be creative Mind Mapping is the most effective note taking technique and there are now a number of different Mind Mapping software tools available to facilitate the creation of Mind Maps.
Why use Mind Maps
Mind Mapping provides a quick method of generating new ideas, organizing and summarizing the information that matters and are much more efficient then normal notes when organizing information that you later want to review before an exam. They can also be used to facilitate creativity, decision making and problem solving.
They are a great tool when revising for exams as they enable you to see how the different topics and concepts are associated and provide visual cues which are great for quickly reviewing a subject before an exam and recalling information that would normally be lost from your long term memory.
How to revise for exams using Mind Maps
When revising for an exam it is best to determine what level of knowledge you have of that subject before you start. When you build upon that knowledge it will be easier to develop associations and connection from the knowledge you have already gained. Therefore create a Mind Map of what you already know. You may be surprised at how much you can recall.
First obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software draw or add a central image at the centre of the page. Make it stand out with colour. Then Create branches from that central image for the main subtopics related to that central topic. The main topics should be written in larger text and highlight the most important areas. Add sub-branches by creating more branches emanating from the main topics. These subtopics should contain more in depth information and keywords or short phrases summarizing key ideas that you can recall from memory. Try and see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.
Linear note taking is monotonous and boring. The key information does not stand out, they take longer to write and do not provide a quick way of summarizing the important information needed for an exam. Mind Maps highlight the important information by placing it nearer the centre in larger writing with images that can quickly sum up a key idea or topic. Try and sum up information with a few words or even better 1 keyword or image. Use plenty of colour and images. Organize the information like this helps you to build associations and is very usefully when you want to recall information at a glance.
When you believe you have recalled as much of the topic as possible then speed read books related to your subject so that you can quickly determine the different categories that the topic is composed of. Don't forget to look at the content pages of the books to get a broad summary of the different sub-topics and elements of the subject you are studying. This will help you to focus on the most important information when reading the subject in greater detail.
Give priority to those books that provide the most usefully and comprehensive information for study and exam revision and study them in greater depth.
Add more branches to your Mind Map and continue to add the key information after reading each section of the book. These keywords, images and phrases should sum up the main topics and subtopics.
Attempting to recall and write down what you have just read will greatly assist in reinforcing that information and will assist recall later by helping to absorb the information into your long term memory. It will also enable you to adjust your methods if you are finding it difficult to recall what you have just read.
Don't forget to keep adding to your Mind Map after gaining knowledge that you consider important for the exam. Your Mind Map should become larger over time and more branches should be created moving even further from the central topic. Your Mind Map should become more detailed so make sure you use a large sheet of paper. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed. Keep reviewing your Mind Map every few days to reinforce the information you have learned.
When you get closer to the exam you should be able to recall in detail the knowledge gained by glancing at your Master Mind Map which should now contain a detailed summary of an entire subject or topic.
As already stated the Mind works best with the use of Images and by creating associations between related information. Also the most important information will stand out and you will not have to read through tons of notes to find the key information. The Mind Map will also have assisted your ability to remember by helping you to recall and review this information.
The Mind remembers best when it can see a subject from a broader perspective and visualise how the different topics and sub-topics are associated and ordered. Combine this with the images which give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto you have the most effective method for learning and recall.
About the Author:
This writer is a Mind Map Blogger who has published an educational blog on how to make Mind Maps and how Mind Mapping educational software can be used for testing childrens knowledge of a subject
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