Mind mapping has numerous purposes that it can be used for. I have created a mind map, on MindMeister’s online service, which currently contains 7 examples of how to use the process, with each example being a branch point from the title at the center. It includes examples for organization, planning, brainstorming, and educational purposes. The following is a description of each example that is currently shown in the map that is viewable at this location.
1. Mind Mapping A Topic
If there is a topic you are just beginning to learn, or are wanting to learn in a detailed fashion, mapping it out could provide huge benefits. Most topics can be broken up into subpoints, which can then be broken up again, and listing all these points into a branching map will provide you with the feeling that you can tackle it much more easily. It is similar to turning a topic into the topic of a class, with the map representing a visualized syllabus. Breaking a topic down into manageable parts drains away a portion of its difficulty.
2. Mind Mapping Vocabulary Word Roots
If you are interested in learning upper-level vocabulary, one way to do this is to map word roots. There are many word roots that show up repeatedly in various words, and learning these words in groups is more efficient. Also, the knowledge of the word root will help you estimate the meaning of an unknown word you run across that contains the root. An example is “pug”, which means “to fight”, which shows up in words like pugnacious(to quarrel or fight readily) and impugn(to challenge, or fight against, as false).
3. Mind Mapping Vocabulary Word Groups
This is another way to learn new vocabulary, by grouping them into synonym sets. Once this is done, the differentiating points between them become more noticeable, as their similarities are already in place based on their placement on the map. An example of this is the concept of “praise”, which would be the title of a group including words like “acclaim”, “accolade”, “extol”, and “laud”. This process of grouping them together can make it more appealing to find out how each word has useful meaning and distinguishes itself.
4. Mind Mapping Monthly Expenses
Creating a branching tree of your monthly expenses is a useful way to see the various categories that your expenses fit into, as well as the costs associated with each one. The listing of your expenses is already beneficial enough, as it gives you a guide as to where money is being used. A mapping like this tends to result in small changes to your usual spending pattern.
5. Mind Mapping The Chapters/Sections Of A Book
This is a great way to get an understanding of the global message an author was trying to send in a book. Mapping out the chapters/sections, along with the vital information each one contains, leaves you with a solid sense of all the content that you have processed through. The end result is an outline that you can use to refer back to certain points of interest, points of confusion, or areas you want to describe to others. This is a way to reduce the feeling that you forgot most of the material you just read through, as outlining a book while reading it gives your mind a structured foundation to then base your thoughts and learning upon.
6. Mind Mapping Long-term Goals
If you have a couple of long-term goals in mind, mapping them out could be an optimal way to extract a list of short-term goals for each of them. Mapping a long-term goal out might also result in you seeing that you are not interested in certain steps of it, and so you would be quickly motivated to remove that goal from your thoughts, as opposed to letting it use up your cognitive time.
7. Mind Mapping Your Day
This segment of the mind map is taken from my post entitled “Mind Mapping Your Day Or Week”.
You can create mind maps by using MindMeister’s online services, or various software like Freemind that is listed on this Wikipedia page.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Personally I use Mind Mapping for just about everything. Ever since my University days I have literally mapped out my entire life around this technique. I set my goals, structure my time, organize my ideas, and even blog about it.
The process of Mind Mapping hasn’t gone mainstream just yet. However, articles such as this will definitely be pushing it in the right direction.
Adam: This is interesting to hear about. Your site certainly does exemplify the fine use of florid mind maps for an abundance of purposes. I like to see the usage of mind maps, as they certainly have benefits in certain types of implementations.
I would agree that they are not used as much, percentage-wise, as they might be at a future time; nevertheless, those who do use them at this time are certainly able to see if they benefit from their creation and viewing, and make use of those benefits.
I’m just getting into mind mapping and I have to say I actually like it! I do mine on paper, though. I’m not sure about mapping expenses or weeks, but it definitely works on my end for content.
Nice post with some interesting ideas. Good job again Armen.
Corey: I am glad to hear that you like the concept, and a few other people I spoke to also prefer doing mind maps on paper. Using them for article content sure is a stimulating way to do brainstorming.
Thanks for that note, and I am sure the effects of going through mapping are showing in your articles.
{ 2 trackbacks }