due: Tuesday, 3/29/16
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wHAT IS MIND MAPPING?
Mind maps are organizational tools that visualize the relationships between chunks of information. Some research has shown that mind maps help boost memory, foster creativity, improve presentations, organize thoughts, and streamline the writing process. For us, we will focus on how to use mind maps to organize the wealth of information from the workbooks, videos, and lectures as a way of studying smarter and not harder. By doing so, I hope to foster a skill that might prove valuable not only in college but also in your future careers. If this is your first time doing this, you may struggle with it at first or you may not see the value in it. Also, you may have tried this before but found little success with it because you aren't a very strong visual/artistic learner. THAT'S OKAY. I want us to try it out and make it a learning process for all of us. Anything worth doing isn't always easy, and I will do my best to provide examples and guide us through the process.
How to get started
- Start in the CENTER of a blank page turned sideways. Why? Because starting at this location gives your brain freedom to spread out in all directions and to express itself more freely and naturally.
- Use an IMAGE or PICTURE for your central idea. Why? Because an image is worth a thousand words and helps you use your imagination. A central image is more interesting, keeps you focused, and helps you concentrate.
- Use COLORS throughout. Why? Because colors are as exciting to your brain as are images. Color adds extra vibrancy and life to your Mind Map and adds tremendous energy to your creative thinking.
- CONNECT your MAIN BRANCHES to the central image and connect your second- and third-level branches to the first and second levels, etc. Why? Because your brain works by association. It likes to link two (or three, or four) things together. If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.
- MINIMIZE YOUR WORDS. Why? Because shortened phrases words give your Mind Map more power and flexibility and engages your mind to summarize the material.
- Use IMAGES throughout. Why? Because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words. So if you have only 10 images in your Mind Map, it’s already the equal of 10,000 words of notes!
- CHANGE and MODIFY any rules that suit your personal style and needs! Mind Maps are personal and unique and should be helpful to you!*
*adapted from "How to Use Mind Maps to Unleash Your Brain's Creativity and Potential" by Melanie Pinola
some guided practice
Below is a mind map of information we have learned about the skeletal system. You can use it a starting point to begin your own personal mind maps. When I started to create this mind map, I thought about some major topics that came from the all the information we covered on the skeletal system/bones. Some of the major topics were: FUNCTION of the bones, TYPES of bones, and the JOINTS. I first focused on TYPES because that was the easiest for me to visualize. Bones can be divided in two types or catagories based on SHAPE of the bone and LOCATION on the body. Then I focused on SHAPE by identifying the four catagories of shapes which are LONG, SHORT, IRREGULAR, and FLAT. From there, I gave some examples of each shape catagory. After that, I jumped into LOCATION which can further be divided into AXIAL and APPENDICULAR, and I gave an EXAMPLE and FUNCTION for each.
Compare the text I wrote above to the mind map of the same information below. Which do you think would be more helpful to study: re-reading the text again or using the mind map below?
Compare the text I wrote above to the mind map of the same information below. Which do you think would be more helpful to study: re-reading the text again or using the mind map below?
class examples
final thoughts
Personally, I find that making mind maps are a great way to organize notes and information as a type of studying. Once that map is made, you can save it for large final exams for review. Some challenges will be that mistakes will be made or that it isn't as organized as you'd like it to be. I am not the greatest at hand-drawn mind maps because I can't pre-plan my thoughts so well, but digital mind maps fix this for me by letting me add/delete/move items as needed. Whether done on paper or through technology, mind maps are best when they work for you and fit your style. If you are struggling with organizing information and breaking things down, that's okay because this means you are really engaging with the material and are putting these content pieces together like a puzzle. Mind maps can take some time at first, but almost everyone was able to make at least 2 main branches within 15 minutes. That's 2 major topics reviewed in 15 minutes which produces a visual review sheet - that's pretty efficient if you ask me. Just like working out your body or practicing an instrument, these mind maps are exercises for your brain and getting better takes time and practice. In the end, as long your mind maps make sense to you, that's more than good enough.