Mind Maps

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Mind Maps

• CSCI102 - Systems
• ITCS905 - Systems
• MCS9102 - Systems

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Overview - The Human

• Can be viewed as an information processing
  system, for example, card, Moran and Newell's
  model human processor
• Information received and responses givenvia
  input-output channels
• Information stored in memory
• Information processed and applied in various ways

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Human Model Processor

• The model can be divided into three interacting
  subsystems
• The perceptual system
• The cognitive system
• The motor system
• Each with its own set of memories and processors

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Human Model Processor

• The memories and processors are described by a
  few parameters
• The storage capacity in items
• The decay time of an item
• The main code type (physical, acoustic, visual,
  semantic)
• The cycle time

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The Human Brain

• However, the human brain is very different from a
  computer
• A computer works in a linear fashion
• The brain works associatively as well as linearly
  - comparing, integrating and synthesising as it
  goes
• Association plays a dominant role in nearly every
  mental function, and words themselves are no
  exception
• Every single word, and idea has numerous links
  attaching it to other ideas and concepts.

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Disadvantages of Traditional Linear Notes

• Energy and time wasted writing down superfluous
  words.
• Other information may be missed while noting down
  one idea.
• Take longer to read and review.
• Associations and connections between key words
  and ideas not readily apparent.
• Attention wanders easily.
• Lack of color and other visual qualities handicap
  memory.
• Traditional notes aid forgetting not memory.

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Mind Maps

• Mind maps, developed by Tony Buzan are an
  effective method of note-taking and useful for
  the generation of ideas by associations
• To make a mind map, one starts in the centre of
  the page with the main idea, and works outward in
  all directions, producing a growing and organised
  structure composed of key words and key images

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Key Features

• Key features are
• Organisation
• Key words
• Association
• Clustering
• Visual memory - print the key words, use color,
  symbols, icons, 3d-effects,arrows and outlining
  groups of words
• Outstandingness - every mind map needs a unique
  centre
• Conscious involvement

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Mind Maps

• Mind maps work the way the brain works -- which
  is not in nice neat lines
• Memory is naturally associative, not linear
• Any idea probably has thousands of links in your
  mind
• Mind maps allow associations and links to be
  recorded and reinforced

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Mind Maps

• The mind remembers key words and images, not
  sentences
• Try recalling just one sentence from memory
• Mind maps use just key words and key images,
  allowing a lot more information to be put on a
  page

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Mind Maps

• Because mind maps are more visual and depict
  associations between key words, they are much
  easier to recall than linear notes
• Starting from the centre of the page rather than
  top-left corner allows you to work out in all
  directions

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Mind Maps

• The organization of a mind map reflects the way
  your own brain organizes ideas
• Mind maps are easy to review
• Regular review reinforces memory
• Best is to try reviewing in your imagination
  first, then go back and check on those areas that
  were hazy

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Mind Maps

• We remember what stands out (where were you when
  john Lennon was shot?). Visual quality of mind
  maps allows you to make key points stand out
  easily

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How to Mind Map

• Turn a large A4 (11.7" x 8.3") or preferably A3
  (16.7" x 11.7"), white sheet of paper on it's
  side (landscape), or use a mind map pad
• Gather a selection of coloured pens, ranging from
  fine nib to medium and highlighters
• Select the topic, problem or subject to be mind
  mapped

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How to Mind Map

• Gather any materials or research or additional
  information
• Start in the centre with an unframed image
  approximately 6cm high and wide for an A4 and
  10cm for an A3
• Use dimension, expression and at least three
  colours in the central image in order to attract
  attention and aid memory

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How to Mind Map

• Make the branches closest to the centre thicker,
  attached to the image and wavy (organic). Place
  the basic ordering ideas (bois) or the 'chapter
  heading' equivalents on the branches
• Branch thinner lines off the end of the
  appropriate bois to hold supporting data (most
  important closest)
• Use images wherever possible

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How to Mind Map

• The image or word should always sit on a line of
  the same length
• Use colours as your own special code to show
  people, topics, themes or dates and to make the
  mind map more beautiful
• Capture all ideas (your own or others), then
  edit, re-organise, make more beautiful, elaborate
  or clarify as a second stage of thinking

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Mind Map Laws

• 1.Start in the centre with an image of the topic,
  using at least 3 colours
• 2.Use images, symbols, codes and dimensions
  throughout your mind map
• 3.Select key words and print using upper or lower
  case letters

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Mind Map Laws

• 4.Each word word/image must be alone and sitting
  on its own line
• 5.The lines must be connected, starting from the
  central image. The central lines are thicker,
  organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they
  radiate out from the centre

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Mind Map Laws

• 6.Make the lines the same length as the
  word/image
• 7.Use colours your own code throughout the
  mind map
• 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 radiant
  hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace
  your branches

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Example

• http//www.peterussell.com/index2.html

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Example
Moves
Breathes
Animal
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Example
Moves
Breathes
Has four legs
Barks
Animal
Is a
Dog
Has Tail
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Example
Works Sheep
Barks
Sheepdog
Has four legs
Moves
Breathes
Is a
Dog
Size medium
Animal
Is a
Is a
Collie
Is a
Has Tail
Colour brown/white black/white merle
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Example
Works Sheep
Barks
Sheepdog
Has four legs
Moves
Breathes
Is a
Dog
Size medium
Animal
Is a
Is a
Collie
Is a
Has Tail
Colour brown/white black/white merle
Instance of
Lassie
Film Character
Colour brown/white
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Uses of Mind Maps

• Mindmaps approach the same structure as memory
  itself
• Mind maps help organise information
• Because of the large amount of association
  involved, they can be very creative, tending to
  generate new ideas and associations that have not
  been thought of before
• Every item in a map is in effect, a centre of
  another map

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Uses of Mind Maps

• Whenever information is being taken in, mind maps
  help organize it into a form that is easily
  assimilated by the brain and easily remembered
• They can be used for noting anything
• Books, lectures,meetings, interviews, phone
  conversations

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Uses of Mind Maps

• The creative potential of a mind map is useful in
  brainstorming sessions
• Start with the basic problem as the centre, and
  generate associations and ideas from it in order
  to arrive at a large number of different possible
  approaches
• By presenting your thoughts and perceptions in a
  spatial manner and by using colour and pictures,
  a better overview is gained and new connections
  can be made visible

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Uses of Mind Maps

• Recall
• Whenever information is being retrieved from
  memory, mind maps allow ideas to be quickly noted
  as they occur, in an organized manner. There's no
  need to form sentences and write them out in full
• They serve as quick and efficient means of review
  and so keep recall at a high level

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Uses of Mind Maps

• Creativity
• Whenever you want to encourage creativity, mind
  maps liberate the mind from linear thinking,
  allowing new ideas to flow more rapidly. Think of
  every item in a mind map as the centre of another
  mind map

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Uses of Mind Maps

• Problem solving
• Whenever you are confronted by a problem --
  professional or personal -- mind maps help you
  see all the issues and how they relate to each
  other. They also help others quickly get an
  overview of how you see different aspects of the
  situation, and their relative importance

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Uses of Mind Maps

• Planning
• Whenever you are planning something, mind maps
  help you get all the relevant information down in
  one place and organize it easily
• They can be used for planning any piece of
  writing from a letter to a screenplay to a book
  or for planning a meeting, a day or a vacation
• Presentations
• Prepare a mind map of the topic and its flow
• This not only helps organize the ideas
  coherently The visual nature of the map means
  the whole thing can be read in your head as you
  talk, without ever having to look at a sheet of
  paper

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References

• http//members.ozemail.com.au/caveman/Creative/Mi
  ndmap/
• http//www.peterussell.com/mindmap1.html
• http//mueller.zems.tu-berlin.de/evti/students/Min
  dmap/Index.htm
• http//www.mind-map.com