Mind Mapping
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and
arranged around a central key word or idea. Especially in British English, the
terms "spider gram" and "spider graph" are
more common,[1] but
they can cause confusion with the term "spider diagram" used in mathematics and logic. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing.
The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively
according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings,
branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between
portions of information. Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories.[citation needed]
By presenting ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner,
mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and
organizational tasks.[citation needed] Though the branches of a mindmap represent
hierarchical tree structures, their radial arrangement disrupts the
prioritizing of concepts typically associated with hierarchies presented with
more linear visual cues.[citation needed] This orientation towards brainstorming encourages
users to enumerate and connect concepts without a tendency to begin within a
particular conceptual framework.[citation needed]
The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea of concept mapping. The former is based on radial
hierarchies and tree structures denoting relationships with a
central governing concept, whereas concept maps are based on connections
between concepts in more diverse patterns. However, either can be part of a
larger personal knowledge base system.
Characteristics
Mind maps are, by definition, a graphical method of taking notes.
Their visual basis helps one to distinguish words or ideas, often with colors
and symbols. They generally take a hierarchical or tree branch format, with
ideas branching into their subsections. Mind maps allow for greater creativity
when recording ideas and information, as well as allowing the note-taker to
associate words with visual representations.[citation needed] Mind maps differ from concept maps in that mind maps focus
on only one word or idea, whereas concept maps connect
multiple words or ideas.
A key distinction between mind maps and modelling graphs is that
there is no rigorous right or wrong with mind maps, relying on the
arbitrariness of mnemonic systems. A UML diagramor a semantic network has structured elements modelling
relationships, with lines connecting objects to indicate relationship. This is
generally done in black and white with a clear and agreed iconography. Mind
maps serve a different purpose: they help with memory and organization. Mind
maps are collections of words structured by the mental context of the author
with visual mnemonics, and, through the use of colour, icons and visual links
are informal and necessary to the proper functioning of the mind map.
Mind map guidelines
Mind map of mind map guidelines
1.
Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at
least 3 colors.
2.
Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your
mind map.
3.
Select key words and print using upper or lower case
letters.
4.
Each word/image is best alone and sitting on its own line.
5.
The lines should be connected, starting from the central
image. The central lines are thicker, organic and thinner as they radiate out
from the centre.
6.
Make the lines the same length as the word/image they
support.
7.
Use multiple colors throughout the mind map, for visual
stimulation and also to encode or group.
8.
Develop your own personal style of mind mapping.
9.
Use emphasis and show associations in your mind map.
10.
Keep the mind map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical
order or outlines to embrace your branches.
This list is itself more concise than a prose version of the same
information and the mind map of these guidelines is itself intended to be more
memorable and quicker to scan than either the prose or the list.
History
Pictorial methods for recording knowledge and modelling systems
have been used for centuries in learning, brainstorming, memory, visual thinking, and problem solving by educators, engineers,
psychologists, and others. Some of the earliest examples of such graphical
records were developed by Porphyry of Tyros, a noted thinker of the 3rd century,
as he graphically visualized the concept categories of Aristotle. Philosopher Ramon Llull (1235–1315) also used such
techniques.
The semantic network was developed in the late 1950s
as a theory to understand human learning and developed further by Allan M. Collins and M. Ross Quillian during the early 1960s.
British popular psychology author Tony Buzan claims to have invented modern
mind mapping.[2] He claimed the idea was inspired
by Alfred Korzybski's general semantics as popularized in science fiction novels, such as those of Robert A. Heinlein and A.E. van Vogt. Buzan argues that while
"traditional" outlines force readers to scan left to right and top to
bottom, readers actually tend to scan the entire page in a non-linear fashion.
Buzan also uses popular assumptions about the cerebral hemispheres in order to promote the exclusive use of mind mapping over
other forms of note making.
The mind map continues to be used in various forms, and for
various applications including learning and education (where it is often taught
as "webs", "mind webs", or "webbing"), planning,
and in engineering diagramming.
When compared with the concept map (which was developed by learning
experts in the 1970s) the structure of a mind map is a similar radial, but is
simplified by having one central key word.
Uses
Rough mindmap notes taken during a
course session
A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed
in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added.
Mind maps have many applications in personal, family, educational, and business situations, including notetaking,
brainstorming (wherein ideas are inserted into the map radially around the
center node, without the implicit prioritization that comes from hierarchy or
sequential arrangements, and wherein grouping and organizing is reserved for
later stages), summarizing, as a mnemonic technique, or to sort out a complicated idea. Mind maps are also promoted
as a way to collaborate in color pen creativity sessions.
Mind maps can be used for:
§ problem solving
§ outline/framework
design
§ structure/relationship
representations
§ anonymous
collaboration
§ marriage of words and
visuals
§ individual expression
of creativity
§ condensing material
into a concise and memorable format
§ team building or
synergy creating activity
§ enhancing work morale
In addition to these direct use cases, data retrieved from mind
maps can be used to enhance several other applications, for instance expert search systems, search engines and search and tag query recommender.[3] To do so, mind maps can be
analysed with classic methods ofinformation retrieval to classify a mind map's author or documents that are linked
from within the mind map.[3]
Mindmaps can be drawn by hand, either as "rough notes"
during a lecture or meeting, for example, quality. An example of a rough mind
map is illustrated. There are also a number ofsoftware packages available for producing mind
maps.
Effectiveness in learning
Buzan claims that the mind map is a vastly superior
note taking method because it does not lead to a "semi-hypnotic
trance" state induced by other note forms. Buzan also argues that the mind
map uses the full range of left and right human cortical skills, balances the brain, taps into the alleged "99% of
your unused mental potential", as well as intuition (which he calls "superlogic"). However, scholarly
research suggests that such claims may actually be marketing hype based on the 10% of brain myth and exaggeration of the importance of lateralization of
brain function. Critics argue that hemispheric specialization theory has been
identified as pseudoscientific when applied to mind mapping.[5]
Farrand, Hussain, and Hennessy (2002) found that spider diagrams (similar to concept maps) had a
limited but significant impact on memory recall in undergraduate students (a
10% increase over baseline for a 600-word text only) as compared to preferred
study methods (a 6% increase over baseline). This improvement was only robust
after a week for those in the diagram group and there was a significant
decrease in motivation compared to the subjects' preferred methods of note
taking. Farrand et al. suggested that learners preferred to use other methods
because using a mind map was an unfamiliar technique, and its status as a
"memory enhancing" technique engendered reluctance to apply it.
Nevertheless the conclusion of the study was "Mind maps provide an
effective study technique when applied to written material. However before mind
maps are generally adopted as a study technique, consideration has to be given
towards ways of improving motivation amongst users."[6]
Pressley, VanEtten, Yokoi, Freebern, and VanMeter (1998) found
that learners tended to learn far better by focusing on the content of learning
material rather than worrying over any one particular form of note taking.[7]
Tools
Mind mapping software can be used to organize large
amounts of information, combining spatial organization, dynamic hierarchical
structuring and node folding. Software packages can extend the concept of mind
mapping by allowing individuals to map more than thoughts and ideas with
information on their computers and the internet, like spreadsheets, documents,
internet sites and images.
.........From Wikipedia
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