Mind Map Laws

1. Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least three colors

2. Use images, symbols, and codes throughout

3. Select key words

4. Print one word only on each main or extended branch

5. Make the lines the same length as the word or image

Mindmap Laws continued:6. Connect main lines to the central image, making them thicker at the start

and becoming thinner as they radiate out

7. Use a different color for each main branch (or rotate colors) and keep the same color for extending branches

Six Tips for Mind Mapping

1.Print neatly: Emphasize words through underlining, highlighting, and thick lines

2.Show associations by drawing an arrow between branches

3.Personalize your Mind Map by relating information to your own experiences

4.Develop your own shorthand or symbols, pictures, and abbreviations

5. Unleash your natural ability

6. When you’ve completed your Mind Map, you may want to put information in either chronological order or in order of importance

Mindmapping and memory

• Sensuality – vision, hearing, sense of smell, taste, touch, kinaesthesia (your awareness of bodily position and movement in space)

• Movement – adding movement to any image adds possibilities for the brain to link in and thus remember

• Association – link new learning to old

• Humor – have fun with your images. The more ridiculous and absurd…the easier to remember

• Imagination – the more you apply your imagination to memory, the better your memory will be

• Number – adds specificity and efficiency

• Symbolism – a more meaningful image increases probability of recall

• Color – using a full range of color provides greater interest and increased recall

• Positivity – positive and pleasant images are better for memory purposes as the brain will want to return to them

• Exaggeration – in size, shape, and sound will increase memory

– Tony Buzan, 1998

The Brain ConnectionThe brain has five major functions:

1.Receiving-anything taken in by any of your senses2. Holding-memory including retention (the ability to store information) and recall (the ability to access that stored information)3. Analyzing-pattern-recognition and information processing4. Outputting-Any form of communication or creative act, including thinking 5. Controlling-Referring to all mental and physical functions

Benefits of Mnemonic Mind Maps

They utilize all the cortical skills, thereby enormously enhancing the probability of recall

They activate the brain on all levels, making it more alert and skillful at remembering

Their attractiveness makes the brain want to return to them, and again encourages the probability of spontaneous recall

They are intrinsically designed to aid memory They reflect the creative thinking process and therefore

simultaneously enhance creative thinking skills

Standard Note-Taking

1. Simply writing out what is being said

2. The list style involves noting down the ideas as they occur

3. The outline numerical alphabetical style consists of making notes in a hierarchical sequence consisting of major categories and sub-categories

Standard Note-taking does not include:

Visual rhythm Visual pattern Color Image (imagination) Visualization Dimension Spatial awareness Association

These missing elements are essential in overall brain functioning

Research results found those participating in a standard note-taking study found the process to be frustrating, boring, punishing, a waste of time and down right painful, both literally and figuratively as many suffered from headaches and finger cramps.

What happens to bored brains?