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:

1. The perceptual system

2. The cognitive system

3. 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

Animal

Breathes Moves

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Example

Dog

Barks Has four legs

Has Tail

Animal

Breathes Moves

Is a

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Example

Dog

Barks

Has four legs

Has Tail

Animal

Breathes Moves

Is a

Sheepdog

Works Sheep

Collie

Size: medium

Colour: [brown/white black/white

merle

Is a

Is a

Is a

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Example

Dog

Barks

Has four legs

Has Tail

Animal

Breathes Moves

Is a

Sheepdog

Works Sheep

Collie

Size: medium

Colour: [brown/white black/white

merle

Is a

Lassie

Instance of

Film Character

Colour: brown/white

Is a

Is a

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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/Mindmap/

• http://www.peterussell.com/mindmap1.html

• http://mueller.zems.tu-berlin.de/evti/students/Mindmap/Index.htm

• http://www.mind-map.com