The great value of the Mind Mapping Process

Posted by Faizel Mohidin on Mar 21, 2010 in Mind Mapping, Mind Maps in Education | 0 comments

The value of involving the whole brain by the use of colours, structure and Key Words in the creation of the Mind Map often gets mentioned.

The fact that a ‘picture is worth a thousand words‘ has become synonymous with Mind Maps.

The two factors that greatly stimulate memory, association and hierarchy, naturally occur in a Mind Map.

Yet, today, I would like you to explore the value of the process of creating a Mind Map and not just the value of the finished product.

There are many approaches to creating a Mind Map, but I will suggest one way in this article by which you can get value in the process and not only in the finished product.

1. Acquire the information

The first step should be acquiring of the information. You have to look at the various sources that you need for the content of your Mind Map.

By scanning the source information you get an idea of what you are up against. Your brain begins to organise the material into logical chunks.

If you have a single source such as a text book, you can have a look at the article on Mind Mapping a text book.

If you are using more than one source, you have to get an idea of how you are going to integrate the information into a single Mind Map.

2. Search out the meaning

It is very difficult to remember what you don’t understand. While understanding is not imperative for remembering, it goes a long way in helping you remember, as the new material can form links with your existing knowledge. The brain will naturally associate anything new with what is already there.

One of the main pedagogical principles is taking learners from the known to the unknown.

While it is important to understand the material, understanding does not always equate to remembering. You could have understood something when you read it, or when the teacher or lecturer explained it, and still forget it.

3. Trigger the memory

When creating your Mind Map, choose Key Words that will trigger the recall of the information. Creative Key Words can often lead your brain down an incorrect path that does not trigger recall accurately.

By seeking out the Key Words that will trigger the correct recall, your brain is building a solid memory map.

By associating Key Ideas to other ideas, you naturally create the associations and hierarchies so important in the recall of information.

3. Complete the Mind Map

If you have applied these principles when creating your Mind Map, you will already have a lot of the information in memory.

By completing your Mind Map using the Mind Map principles, you will have non-linear colourful notes that work with the brain and not against it, but as you can see from the above the value is as much in the process as it is in the final product.

4. Exhibit what you know

Most people spend a lot of time putting information ‘into their heads’, but very little time ‘getting it out’. You have to exhibit to yourself that you remember what you’ve put in.

A Mind Map is great for this, because you can spend five to ten minutes drawing a Mind Map of the material during the revise phase, before you start revising.

This will force the brain to get used to recalling information. You will soon find yourself recalling the information with greater and greater ease.

Don’t ignore the revision part of the process. It could turn out to be the most valuable part of the whole process!

I hope you now understand that the benefits of Mind Mapping lies in the very process of creating a Mind Map. The process involves the whole brain and ensures that you get the best possible results from your wonderful brain.