Unlock your brain's potential using mind mapping Mind mapping is a popular technique that can be applied in a variety of situations and settings. Students can make sense of complex topics and structure their revision with mind mapping; business people can manage projects and collaborate with colleagues using mind maps, and any creative process can be supported by using a mind map to explore ideas and build upon them. Mind maps allow for greater creativity when recording ideas and information whatever the topic, and enable the note-taker to associate words with visual representations.
Mind Mapping For Dummies explains how mind mapping works, why it's so successful, and the many ways it can be used. It takes you through the wide range of approaches to mind mapping, looks at the available mind mapping software options, and investigates advanced mind mapping techniques for a range of purposes, including studying for exams, improving memory, project management, and maximizing creativity.
- Suitable for students of all ages and study levels
- An excellent resource for people working on creative projects who wish to use mind mapping to develop their ideas
- Shows businesspeople how to maximize their efficiency, manage projects, and brainstorm effectively
If you're a student, artist, writer, or businessperson, Mind Mapping For Dummies shows you how to unlock your brain's potential.
Table of Contents:
Foreword xvii
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 2
How This Book is Organised 2
Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 3
Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 3
Part III: Mind Mapping Software 3
Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 3
Part V: The Part of Tens 4
Icons Used in This Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 7
Chapter 1: Introducing Mind Mapping 9
Presenting Information Visually 9
Give it a try! 10
Taking the Mind Map a stage further 12
A little reflection please 13
A Simple Technique with Many Applications 14
‘Cribs’ for lectures and presentations 15
Taking notes from texts and books 15
Taking notes from presentations and discussions 15
Project management 16
Knowledge management 16
Pen and Paper or Computer? 17
Revising Mind Maps 18
Advanced Strategies Using Mind Mapping 19
Chapter 2: Visualising Information 21
How and Why Visualisation Can Help You 21
Text as a form of visual information 22
Reducing complexity and presenting information in a different way 22
Two examples 22
Visualising Information as a Core Skill 24
What science has to say 25
The visualisation method used for Mind Mapping 27
Chapter 3: Generating Mind Maps 29
The Basic Rules: Helping You to Use Mind Mapping Effectively 30
Branches – it’s all connected 30
Keywords instead of phrases 32
The exception proves the rule 34
A Picture Says More Than a Thousand Words 35
Colours – not just pretty to look at 35
Your personal set of symbols 36
Boxes and clouds – highlighting what’s important 38
Making arrow connections quite clear 39
Chapter 4: Why Mind Mapping Works 41
Different Routes to Information 42
Pictures: Unique and unforgettable 43
A picture says more than a thousand words 44
How we think 45
Mind Mapping as a Brain-Friendly Technique 46
More Than Just the Sum of its Parts 48
The big picture and details 48
More information dimensions and greater information density 48
Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 51
Chapter 5: Preparing Talks and Lectures Using Mind Maps 53
Freedom and Flexibility with Mind Maps at All Times 53
Preparing Lectures: Step by Step 55
Step 1: Marshalling your initial thoughts 55
Step 2: Determining the main themes 57
Step 3: Adding detail 58
Step 4: Testing the Mind Map 59
And Now for an Example 59
Chapter 6: Handling Text with Mind Mapping 61
Converting Text and Sentences into a Mind Map 61
Example: Motivation 62
Example: Email guideline 65
Interlude: Scientific Definitions as a Mind Map 67
Processing Whole Books with Mind Mapping 68
The best way of dealing with the text 70
Chapter 7: Note-Taking in Talks, Lectures and Meetings 73
Block Text or Mind Map 73
Characteristics of talks, lectures and meetings 75
Give it a try! 77
Colour and symbol codes 79
Informative Conversations 80
Just Write It Out – Using Your Wandering Thoughts 80
Mind Mapping = in – out to the power of ten 81
Part III: Mind Mapping Software 83
Chapter 8: Software versus Traditional Mind Mapping 85
Software versus Pen and Paper – The Main Differences 86
The advantages of Mind-Mapping software over pen and paper 88
Mind-Mapping Software = Mind Mapping Reloaded 91
Chapter 9: Taking a Tour of Mind-Mapping Software 93
Suggested Programs – Genuine Mind Mapping 93
Overview of Desktop Programs 94
Aviz Thoughtmapper 95
Concept Draw MindMap 96
EMINEC MYmap 97
freemind – really free 98
iMindMap – from the inventor of Mind Mapping 99
Inspiration – recommended for schools 100
MindGenius 101
Mindjet MindManager – the market leader 102
MindVisualizer – particularly simple 103
MindMapper 104
Novamind 105
Matchware MindView 3 106
XMind – the basic version is free 107
Web-Based Mind-Mapping Programs 108
Mapmyself 108
Mind42 – simple and free of charge 109
MindMeister 109
Mindomo 110
Comparing Software Packages 111
Chapter 10: Introducing Mindjet MindManager 113
The Basics: Finding Your Way Around 114
Important control keys 115
Keeping it neat and tidy: Formatting options 115
Quick notes within branches 116
Hyperlinks – Integrating More Information into a Mind Map 118
Inserting hyperlinks – how it works 119
Less is More: Filter Functions 120
Simple but useful: Fading branches in and out 121
Power filter: Filtering by specific criteria 122
Project Management with GANTT Diagrams 124
Adding task information to branches 124
Exporting and Processing 126
Sharing your Mind Map 127
Mindjet Player – interactive pdf document 128
pdf – easy and practical 128
Image fi les for integration into other documents 128
Pack&Go – and all the links work 128
Word – presenting a Mind Map as a linear document 129
PowerPoint – from branches to bullet points 129
Presentation Mode: From Mind Map to Presentation in a Single Click 131
Chapter 11: Exploring ThinkBuzan’s iMindMap 133
Basic Use – Finding Your Way Around 134
Branches 135
Three kinds of branch 137
Two Input Methods: Mind Mapping and Speed Mind Mapping 138
Speed Mind Mapping – how it works 138
Formatting with iMindMap 138
SmartLayout: From linear to radial Mind Maps 140
Project-management mode: GANTT view 142
Project Management with iMindMap, Step by Step 143
Step 1: Select the branches concerned 143
Step 2: Inputting task details 144
Step 3: Adjusting views 145
Presenting the Mind Map 145
Really quite presentable: Presentation mode 145
An alternative: Exporting as a PowerPoint presentation 147
Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 149
Chapter 12: Mind Mapping Reading Techniques 151
Appreciating the Fine Art of Preparation 152
Step 1: Skimming the text 152
Step 2: Recalling background knowledge 153
Step 3: Setting questions and aims 153
Honing the Reading Process 154
Step 1: Skim reading 155
Step 2: Preview 155
Step 3: Immersion 156
Step 4: Difficult passages 156
For Advanced Students: Generating a Mind Map from Different Sources 159
Chapter 13: Learning and Preparing for Exams with Mind Mapping 161
Preparing for Exams 161
Step 1: Taking Mind-Mapping notes 162
Generating special Study Mind Maps 163
Step 2: Entering your own thoughts 163
Step 3: Revising regularly 164
Step 4: Explaining it to others 165
Especially for Students: Generating Study Mind Maps from Different Sources 165
Chapter 14: Project Management with Mind Mapping 169
‘One Page Management’: Everything on a Single Page 169
Software is Sensible 170
Projects You Can Plan and Control with Mind Maps 172
Structuring projects with Mind Mapping 172
Further Examples of Mind Mapping in Project Management 177
Planning a business trip 177
Managing distance learning 179
Chapter 15: Knowledge Management with Mind Mapping 181
Keeping Your Eye on the Ball 181
Assembling Digital Information in a Mind Map 182
Example: Personal start centre 183
Multi-Level Mind Maps 185
Managing scientific work with Mind Maps 186
More Ways of Using and Applying Mind Maps 188
Chapter 16: Mind Mapping for Creativity 189
The 4P Creativity Model 190
Creativity yields results 190
It’s a personal thing 191
Modelling the creative process 191
Principles of creativity – two-stage thinking 193
Example: Publishing an eye-catching book 193
Mind Mapping as a Support in the Creative Process 194
Me on my own (no groups) 194
Using Mind Mapping in the second stage 196
Developing and Ordering Ideas with MindManager: A Step-by-Step Approach 196
Step 1: Formulating an issue 197
Step 2: Inputting ideas 198
Step 3: Evaluating ideas 198
Step 4: Structuring ideas 201
Part V: The Part of Tens 203
Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Working Efficiently with Mind Mapping 205
Using the Right Paper 205
Having the Right Equipment Ready 206
Using the One-Word Rule 207
Working with Symbols 207
Perfection Not Required! 208
Writing in Block Capitals 209
On Paper: Organic Mind Maps 209
Writing in Reading Order 210
Developing Mind Maps Outwards and Not Writing Vertically 211
Storing Your Mind Maps 212
Filing away hand-drawn Mind Maps 212
Generating master copies 213
Using tablet PCs 213
Chapter 18: (Almost) Ten Tips on How to Make Mind Mapping Your Everyday Working Tool 215
Practise, Practise and Practise Again! 215
Start Small and Take It From There 216
Trying It in Non-Critical Situations 218
Don’t Make Mixed Notes 218
Having Materials Always to Hand 219
Making Mind Maps Visually Appealing 220
Have Fun! 220
Drawing Maps by Hand and with Software 221
Choosing Your Software 221
Index 223
