Skip to content

Mind Map

  • by

This graphic technique was developed by Tony Buzan. Mind Map is a very interesting tool for explaining concepts, and ideas. It allows us to visualize our ideas in structured forms and is very easy to use.

 

How we can see a Mind Map is a diagram that is used to visually organize information, which being in the form of a tree of color ideas, even on many occasions with images, either made by hand, or developed thanks to the use of programs computer specific, this tool is very useful because they represent the way we think, unlike written notes or texts that contain paragraphs that do not represent the thought process at all.

How work a Mind Map?

 

To apply it, we place the problem at the centre and from there the issues related to it radiate, creating a nodal structure. Images or keywords start from these themes and we draw lines on open ones, so that brain dendrites are recreated. Thanks to this, the visual and written representations of ideas merge to create something that becomes natural to the mind.

We must indicate that this method is ideal for teamwork.

The way to work with this technique is as follows:

  1. The paper or media must be placed in landscape. We recommend that you use a blank sheet of paper, as neutral as possible.
  2. The centre of the scheme has to write or represent the topic with which it is intended to work so that the centre of the page has to inspire the opening of the rest of the ideas. In short, it represents the objective of the mental map.
  3. The dendrites must be harmonic, maintaining the hierarchy and all must originate from the centre.
  4. It is very important that there is only one idea per branch.
  5. If we want to incorporate drawings, they have to be simple and clear to help stimulate the imagination.
  6. It is necessary to use different colours to help interpret the map and differentiate ideas.
  7. It is important to have coloured markers if you do it by hand or with a specific application if you do it on a computer.This method allows you to explore a project and generate ideas through ramifications that extend the initial concept.

Every day we can see very information save in tables, but this information is very bored to read, and it is possible that it is complicated to understand.

For example, the next table has the information over Partnerships of Idea Project:

Countries Cities Partners
Spain Cáceres Universidad de Extremadura
Spain Badajoz Universidad de Extremadura
Spain Valencia InnoHub Valencia
Portugal Covilha E&D Knowledge Consulting
Italy Matera MateraHub
Polonia Rzeszów Danmar Computers

We can build a Mind Map with the information de last table, for example:

Source: https://miro.com/

The last Mind Map has identic information than the table, but this information is very visual and friendly, and when we are built new ideas, y very important to work with tools very visually, to help our mind. Because a Mind Map is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of our brain making that literally ‘maps out’ our ideas.

Mind Mapping is interesting for the next techniques

  • Brainstorming and visualizing concepts
  • Simplifying task and project management
  • Graphic organizers
  • Running meetings
  • Presenting and communicating ideas
  • Outlining reports and documents