8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

1/18

Professionalism & Personal

Skills

Facilitation Tools:

Mind Maps and the Use of VisualInformation

S4

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

2/18

What is a Mind Map?

A mind map is a personal memory aid

you create it

Mind maps can be used to

help solve problems

enhance study techniques

organise notes

plan essays

revise

Mind maps were developed by Tony Buzan

see The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan (1993)

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

3/18

Example of a Mind Map 1

James Cook University Study Skills on line. Mind Mapping

http://www.tld.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/mindmap/index.html

http://www.tld.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/mindmap/index.htmlhttp://www.tld.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/mindmap/index.html

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

4/18

Mind Maps

Learning to create mind maps takes time and

practice

Mind maps use and stimulate the visual abilities of

the mind

The benefits are that they enhance the memorys

storing and recalling capabilities through the use of

images for emphasis and association

If represented visually a subject can be understood

and remembered much more efficiently.

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

5/18

Mind Maps

Activity 4.1

Activity 4.2

Activity 4.3

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

6/18

Mind Maps

Activities 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 illustrate the power

and potential of images in

problem solving organising information

learning and

memorising systems and information.

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

7/18

Images

Human brain has a huge capacityfor remembering images

In an experiment where

individuals were shown and askedto remember 2460 images (one

per second with short breaks

every few hundred images)

94% accuracy when asked to recallvia choice between pairs of

previously seen image and one not

previously seen.

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

8/18

Images

24 % of people say they have no

visualisation capacity

incapable of creating images

no ability to paint or draw

they probably mistake initial failure

for fundamental incapacity or

images and colours are somehowperceived as primitive, childish,

immature or irrelevant

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

9/18

Example of a Mind Map 2

From The Mind Map Book Tony Buzan (1993)

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

10/18

Summary of Mind Map Laws 1

Techniques

Use Emphasis

always use a central

image - worth athousand words

use images throughout

your Mind Map

use three or more

colours use dimension in

images and around

words

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

11/18

Summary of Mind Map Laws 2

Words should be printed more photogenic

more immediate

easier to read

Words should be on a line Each line connected to other

lines

this gives basic structure

Words should be in units one word per line

gives more free hooks

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

12/18

Mind Maps Should be Fun!

Mind maps are about radiant thinking

The mind should be left as free as possible

too much thinking about where things should go or whether

they should be included will simply slow down the process

They should

enhance the memory!

delight the eye!

stimulate the right cortical processes!

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

13/18

The disadvantages of standard

notes They obscure key words

important ideas are conveyed by key

words that bring back sprays of relevantassociations whenever they are read or

heard. In standard notes these key words

often appear on different pages , obscured

by the mass of less important words.

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

14/18

The disadvantages of standard notes

They make it difficult to remember or

analyse

monotonous, single colour notes arevisually boring. As such they are rejected

and forgotten. Take the form of endless

similar looking lists. The sheer monotony of

making such lists puts the brain in a semi-

hypnotic trance, making it impossible to

remember their content.Just like this slide

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

15/18

The disadvantages of standard notes

They waste time

by encouraging unnecessary noting

by requiring the reading of unnecessarynotes

by requiring re-reading of unnecessary

notes by requiring the searching for key words

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

16/18

The disadvantages of standard notes

They fail to stimulate the brain creatively

the linear presentation of standard notes

prevents the brain from makingassociations, thus counteracting creativity

and memory.Also when faced with list

style notes, the brain constantly has the

sense that it has come to the end orfinished - slowing and stifling our thought

processes.

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

17/18

Mind Maps in Note Taking and

Revision One immediate use of mind maps is in taking and

organising notes from lectures or seminars

They provide an excellent medium for enhancing

learning and revision for tests and examinations

8/14/2019 COF123_S5_slides_v1

18/18

Mind Maps

Activity 4.4