Mind Maps and Thinking Hats

Prof. Lakshman Madurasinghe, PhDConsultant Psychologist; Attorney

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Mind Mapping

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What is mind mapping?

Developed in the 1960s by Tony Buzan to help students make notes by using keywords and images.

Non-linear thinking and associative memory

Visual brainstorming tool.

Use connections between keywords to map knowledge to help improve understanding and recall.

Aids high level and critical thinking.

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What’s it used for?

Organising thoughts and ideas

Reading papers

Lecture notes

Writing

Knowledge bases

Problem solving

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How to do a Mind Map

Start with main idea at the centre of the page.

Think quickly and non-linearly

Use keywords

Point out relationships between concepts with lines.

Colour-code related concepts.

Use images

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Foundations

Brainstorming is the first step towards Mind Mapping Brainstorming is a way of finding simple

associations between things. However, brainstorming exercises are

different from Mind Maps in that they are often two-dimensional and monotone.

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Foundations

A central image should form the basis of your Mind Map.

Images are more evocative than words. They often trigger associations more

readily. This means they are better to enhancing

thinking and creativity.

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Sample Maps: Lecture notes

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Foundations

I also shows that it is ludicrous that over 95% of note-taking/making is done without the benefit of images.

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Foundations

What if I can’t draw or my drawing is bad? Anyone can learn to draw! The key is to practise…

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Foundations

‘The reason why so many people assume they are incapable of of creating images is that, instead of understanding that the brain always succeeds through continued experimentation, they mistake initial failure for fundamental incapacity and as its true measure of their talent.’ (Buzan)

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping From your central image you should

radiate Key Words Key Words should be PRINTED on

curved lines flowing from the central image. These lines should be the same length as the words.

By printing them you naturally EMPHASISE THEM.

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

Key words should be basic ordering ideas (or key concepts) and from these concepts associated ideas should flow.

Words radiate their own associations E.g. Dog, bone, cat… What did you think of next? Your next thought is an example of an

association

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping If you find it difficult

working out what your key ideas are then try answering the following questions:

What are the most important seven categories in the area under consideration?

What are my basic questions? ‘Why?’, ‘What?’,‘Where?’,’Who?, ‘How?’,‘Which?’,’When?’ often serve as major branches in a Mind Map.

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

If you find yourself having a ‘mental block’ then try adding blank lines to the key words Mind Map.

‘[The brain] will almost instantaneously find associations, especially when given the trigger of additional stimulus.’ (Buzan)

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Sample Maps: Writing

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Sample Maps: CV

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BRAIN WRITINGBRAIN WRITING

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Use of colour

Yellow- inspiration , power of mind, bright ideas, joy, laughter

Green- balance, harmony, calmness , bridge between emotions and higher reasons, decision making, flowing with life

Blue- Creativity, teaching ability, calm after the storm, peace beyond understanding

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Use of colour

Violet- Wisdom

Pink- Warmth , tenderness, all is well

Golden- Brilliance, higher creativity

Red- Anger, fear, raw power, strength to be well, fire

Orange- pleasure, warmth, passion, bliss

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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Master in his field but sometimes appeared to be in a dream , at other times pragmatic, suddenly critical….

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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The Four Character states

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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The Dreamer

Able to fantasize, pure creativity with no boundaries….” what if………..”

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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The Realist

Able to realistically implement a plan

“ As if…….”

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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The Critic

Able to constructively criticize a plan, identifying any flaws that would prevent it from working

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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The Impartial

Able to stand back and take a detached view of a situation

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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As a group select a work related problem and use Walt Disney method to find a solution

15 mts

Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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Creative thinking example- 10 mts

Three women each have two daughters, and they all go into a restaurant for a meal.There are only seven vacant seats in the restaurant, but each has a seat to herself.

How did they manage it ?

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Seven Thinking Hats 6+1

An aid to decision making and problem solving.

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The Red Hat

• What do you feel about the suggestion?

• What are your gut reactions?

• What intuitions do you have?

• Don’t think too long or too hard.

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The White Hat

• The information seeking hat.

• What are the facts?• What information is

available? What is relevant?

• When wearing the white hat we are neutral in our thinking.

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The Yellow Hat

• The sunshine hat.• It is positive and

constructive.• It is about

effectiveness and getting a job done.

• What are the benefits, the advantages?

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The Black Hat

• The caution hat.• In black hat the

thinker points out errors or pit-falls.

• What are the risks or dangers involved?

• Identifies difficulties and problems.

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• This is the creative mode of thinking.

• Green represents growth and movement.

• In green hat we look to new ideas and solutions.

• Lateral thinking wears a green hat.

The Green Hat

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• The control hat, organising thinking itself.

• Sets the focus, calls for the use of other hats.

• Monitors and reflects on the thinking processes used.

• Blue is for planning.

The Blue Hat

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7 th hat- GOLD

Use of 6 colour hats for decision makingSeeing from different angles-

I am proposing a new hat- GOLD

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• The Value hat, filtering thoughts.

• Analyze each thought against 8 point yardstick.

• True, honest, just, pure,lovely,good report, virtue, praise.

• E-Consciousness based

.

The GOLD Hat

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Seven Thinking Hats

IntuitiveInformative

Constructive

Cautious

CreativeReflective

Value-CenteredE-Consciousness

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Blue HatBlue HatManaging The Thinking

Setting The FocusMaking Summaries

Overviews ConclusionsAction Plans

Green HatGreen HatCreative Thinking

Possibilities Alternatives New Ideas New Concepts

Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values

Black HatBlack Hat

Why It May Not WorkCautions DangersProblems Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Yellow HatYellow HatWhy It May Work

Values & Benefits(Both Known & Potential)

The Good In ItLogical Reasons Must Be Given

Red HatRed HatFeelings & Intuition

Emotions Or Hunches “At This Point”

No Reasons or JustificationKeep It Short

White HatWhite HatInformation & Data

Neutral & ObjectiveChecked & Believed Facts

Missing Information & Where To Source It

FOCUSFOCUS

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White HatWhite HatInformation & Data

Neutral & ObjectiveChecked & Believed Facts

Missing Information & Where To Source It

Red HatRed HatFeelings & Intuition

Emotions Or Hunches “At This Point”

No Reasons or JustificationKeep It Short

Black HatBlack Hat

Why It May Not WorkCautions DangersProblems Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Yellow HatYellow HatWhy It May Work

Values & Benefits(Both Known & Potential)

The Good In ItLogical Reasons Must Be Given Green HatGreen Hat

Creative ThinkingPossibilities Alternatives New Ideas New Concepts

Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values

Blue HatBlue HatManaging The Thinking

Setting The FocusMaking Summaries

Overviews ConclusionsAction Plans

FOCUSFOCUS

GOLDOverall qualitycheck against values