Mind Mapping

What is a mind map?

A mind map is a really cool web of ideas in which each idea is related to a central concept. It’s represented as a simple diagram full of words, lines (hence the similarity to a web), and pictures. Mind mapping serves as a useful note-taking strategy in that it uses fewer words and enables a student to better see the connections between and relative significance of each idea in a certain topic.

I didn’t know that they were called mind maps before. I know that Scott H. Young has discussed this strategy in many of his posts on studying and holistic learning, but he calls it flow-based note-taking, not mind mapping. After I read some of them (and before I knew about mind mapping), I decided to give this “flow-based note-taking” trick a try.

I used it for only one unit in US History, but I found it effective. For one thing, I was writing less than my peers were, but I was getting the same basic ideas down. I didn’t worry about copying definitions word for word and explaining cause-and-effect event chains. Instead, I adopted a relaxed mindset and merely paid attention to what my teacher said. I was still able to absorb the core ideas.

Even when I take full notes, I never write complete sentences or definitions — they’re fragmented and caveman-like (of course, I make sure that I’m later able to understand them). This is done in in the interest of time and focus. I notice that as I spend more time writing continuous definitions, I become more focused on the act of writing than on the ideas that are being conveyed. After a class period of doing this, I have trouble remembering the specifics of what was just taught. This is problematic, because it means I have to spend more energy “studying” (AKA learning) the material later.

However, while mind mapping/taking web-based notes, I noticed that my mind was much clearer. I was able to hone in more on the underlying themes, cause-and-effect chains (another post-worthy idea that I’ve encountered while improving my study habits), and unmentioned significant points of each concept. I was giving myself time to think about and digest each idea — a crucial process, as it allows me to firmly peg an idea in my mind so I can easily remember it for a longer time, and thus have easier study sessions. If I’m busy copying more words, however, I cannot pause and ask, “Why?”, “What comes next?”, “How does this fit into the broader context of the unit we’re studying?”, and other crucial questions that improve my comprehension.

Not only do mind maps have advantages for studying and learning, but they also allow for more notebook whitespace and attention to neatness and organization. All of these improve readability, which in turn allows for an easier review of the material. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I realized that I was a lot more relaxed than my peers during class, as everyone else is a “full” note-taker.

Of course, correlation is not causation: there may have been other reasons why I was able to learn that particular unit more efficiently. However, I suspect that this style of note-taking helped. Give it a shot!