What would I use a Mind Map for?

Problem solving

Create a mind map including all the factors involved in the problem. The map will prompt new aspects. Include them all as branches. New pathways will open up. Your linear thinking will now become lateral thinking. Give priority to the important issues by color, shape or number. Now weigh up the options and proceed with the best solution.

Learning

Use a map to take notes of a lecture. Main branches are the important aspects, child branches, the detail. To summarize the contents of a book, the parent branches are like chapter divisions, and the detail is shown in the offspring branches.

Use your mind maps for learning. A single map can cover much information. The layout helps you focus on the main issues.

Thinking

Mind maps give vitality to information, and help your mind concentrate. Ideally suited to brain storming, ideas can be quickly recorded so that the flow is not interrrupted.

Association between ideas is immediately obvious, and everybody's creative force is brought to bear on the subject. When the ideas dry up, try the "what if?" and reversal approaches. Soon your thinking is clear and your ideas can be put into practice.

Organizing

When you list the things that need to be done, the order of the branches gives the succession of tasks and the proirities. Sub-items are shown as sub-branches so that no key activity is lost.

The map highlights the resources needed to carry out the total operation.

Communicating

Talks and presentations become clear and concise when directed by a mind map you have prepared in advance. You are kept on track; your time is balanced over the main topics and the audience can see the whole picture. The presentation will have an informality that reflects the fact that you have organised the material well.

Agendas can be mind-mapped and notes of the proceedings jotted on your mind map for formal recording in minutes.

Technical documantation becomes clear when a mind map shows the main operations and the details.

Teachers and lecturers can use the mind map to plan lessons and series of talks.