MIND MAPPING
Mind Mapping was invented and developed by the polymath Tony Buzan after years of extensive research and testing.
It is a powerful and proven visual tool used for rapidly organising information and enabling creative thought that has been used successfully by millions of people over many years.
Many people who have learnt how to Mind Map incorrectly can undervalue, and misunderstand its power; so here is a video of Tony himself explaining the simple rules and the reasons behind them.
Please watch and listen carefully before you start your own Mind Map, even if you have used this method before.
- ISBN-10: 0007728913
Discover and Define
Y7+
Seek out and select information which will clarify thinking about the task.
State and analyse user needs, wants and design opportunities in the context your own previous knowledge.
Identify design possibilities by discussing needs and opportunities presented by the task
15(+) minutes
Mind-mapping is one way of structuring and connecting information in an ordered way that makes clear the general focus and specific detail of a subject in a visually logical way. It is similar to – but more structured than – brainstorming.
Focus on the key words and concepts, written down in your own words, and then look for branches and connections between the ideas. Thus they produce a ‘map’ of their knowledge in a format that can help them understand and remember new information and explore new ideas. Sketching a mind-map encourages the ‘tipping out’ of information.
Look for relationships. Use lines, colours, arrows, branches or other ways of showing connections between the ideas generated. These relationships may be an important factor in understanding new information or ideas. By personalising the map with your own symbols and designs, you will be constructing visual and meaningful relationships between ideas. This will assist in your recall and understanding.
Draw quickly, on unlined paper, without pausing, judging or editing. Any of these will promote linear, convergent thinking. The idea of mind-mapping is to think divergently, creatively, and in a nonlinear manner. There will be plenty of time to modify the information later on but, at this stage, it is important to get every possibility into the mind-map. It may just be that one of those wild, bizarre or obscure possibilities will become the key to your design.
Write in capitals, putting down only the key points. Capitals are also easier to read in a diagram. If required, add some explanatory notes in lower case. Some people do this when they revisit the mind-map at a later date, while others write in such things as assessment criteria in this way.
It can be useful to turn the page sideways to do the mind-map in landscape format.
Put the main idea in the centre, with other ideas radiating out from it. This can give a less cluttered effect than using the page in the ‘portrait’ format.
Leave lots of space. Some of the most useful mind-maps are those that develop over a period of time. After drawing the initial mind-map, pupils may wish to highlight things and add information as the design progresses. For this reason it is a good idea to leave lots of space.