Last week’s article ‘passion makes perfect’, set the scene for the year.

This week’s article gives you an overview of how information will be delivered on MindMapTutor.com in 2010.

The MindMapTutor

The first major change is the use of what I now call a MindMapTutor.  A MindMapTutor opens with a Mind Map Summary and follows with information based on the Mind Map.

This allows you to Preview the article and get an Overview before you commence with reading. It also serves as a Review after you have read the article.

I suggest that you have a quick look at the Mind Map and then start reading. Once you have read the article, have another look at the Mind Map and try to associate what you have read with the branches on the Mind Map.

The Mind Map provides ‘mental hooks’ for the brain. As you read the article, your brain will naturally associate what you are reading to these hooks. The more you do this, the more your brain will develop whole brain thinking and learning skills.

The Mind Map is not a detailed copy of the article, but serves merely as a ‘mental hook’, which will later serve as a ‘trigger’ for later recall.

PDF Download of Mind Map

A PDF version of the Mind Map will also be attached for you to download so that you can easily save or print the Mind Map. If you want to review the article later, you should simply be able to browse through the Mind Map, making reviews much easier and quicker.

If you do need to revisit the article, you don’t have to read the whole article again. Simply review the items that you have missed using the Mind Map as a guide.

MindMapTutor.com is also fully searchable, so simply search for the article once it has been archived. It is the quickest way to find what you are looking for.

Mind Map Templates

I’ve had numerous requests to provide Mind Map Templates that can be downloaded and modified for personal use.

This will obviously require a lot more work and I am looking at providing a premium membership site for this. I will keep you informed.

Mind Map Software

One of the challenges in providing Mind Map templates, is the availability of Mind Map Software.

It is very difficult to promote Mind Mapping as a Universal Tool, as commercial Mind Mapping Software has not yet reached ‘mainstream’ status. Due to cost and various other reasons, Mind Mapping software has been adopted largely by businesses. As Mind Mapping becomes more popular, I hope the use of Mind Mapping software grows and becomes more affordable and readily available.

Another problem with Mind Mapping software is the tendency for them to ‘lock you in’. The Mind Maps you produce can only be used properly with the software that created it.

The early days of Microsoft Office were like that. Today there are many commercial and Open Source Office packages that can read, edit and save documents in Microsoft Office format. I look forward to the day that Mind Map Software becomes ‘mainstream’, allowing you to read, edit and create Mind Maps that can be used with any Mind Map Software package. It will then be your preference for a particular software package or brand that will determine the tool you use and not driven by the need to read various file formats.

At the moment it looks as if XML can provide that standard, but only time will tell.

Using Xmind

It is for this reason that I’ve chosen to use XMind for all the Mind Map templates I will be creating. I feel that Xmind is better than the FreeMind, the other popular OpenSource Mind Map package.

Xmind has followed a unique model. It provides you with a basic (but comprehensive) version at no cost and charges for an upgraded full featured version. This allows you to get used to Mind Maps and Mind Mapping software before making a decision to buy.

The time provided by the normal ‘30 day trial’ versions is simply too short when starting out with Mind Mapping. Once you are used to working with Mind Mapping software, you will be able to make a decision much easier within the trial period.

With Xmind, you can also export a FreeMind file, which can be imported into most commercial software packages.

Conclusion

You will get a lot more value out of MindMapTutor.com in 2010, based on your feedback and input in 2009. This will continue to be at no cost to you!

A new premium site will be launched, which will provide you with interactive tools, templates, videos and other downloads to enable you to learn faster and easier.

As I’ve quoted Arie de Geus so many times before:

Your ability to learn faster than your competitors may be your only sustainable competitive advantage.

MindMapTutor.com remains dedicated to enable you to do exactly this!