Mind Mapping For Dummies

Mind mapping is a popular technique that can be applied in a variety of situations and settings. Students can make sense of complex topics and structure their revision with mind mapping; business people can manage projects and collaborate with colleagues using mind maps, and any creative process can be supported by using a mind map to explore ideas and build upon them. Mind maps allow for greater creativity when recording ideas and information whatever the topic, and enable the note-taker to associate words with visual representations.

Mind Mapping For Dummies explains how mind mapping works, why it's so successful, and the many ways it can be used. It takes you through the wide range of approaches to mind mapping, looks at the available mind mapping software options, and investigates advanced mind mapping techniques for a range of purposes, including studying for exams, improving memory, project management, and maximizing creativity.

• Suitable for students of all ages and study levels
• An excellent resource for people working on creative projects who wish to use mind mapping to develop their ideas
• Shows businesspeople how to maximize their efficiency, manage projects, and brainstorm effectively

If you're a student, artist, writer, or businessperson, Mind Mapping For Dummies shows you how to unlock your brain's potential.

Foreword xvii

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

How This Book is Organised 2

Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 3

Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 3

Part III: Mind Mapping Software 3

Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 3

Part V: The Part of Tens 4

Icons Used in This Book 4

Where to Go from Here 4

Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Mind Mapping 9

Presenting Information Visually 9

Give it a try! 10

Taking the Mind Map a stage further 12

A little reflection please 13

A Simple Technique with Many Applications 14

‘Cribs’ for lectures and presentations 15

Taking notes from texts and books 15

Taking notes from presentations and discussions 15

Project management 16

Knowledge management 16

Pen and Paper or Computer? 17

Revising Mind Maps 18

Advanced Strategies Using Mind Mapping 19

Chapter 2: Visualising Information 21

How and Why Visualisation Can Help You 21

Text as a form of visual information 22

Reducing complexity and presenting information in a different way 22

Two examples 22

Visualising Information as a Core Skill 24

What science has to say 25

The visualisation method used for Mind Mapping 27

Chapter 3: Generating Mind Maps 29

The Basic Rules: Helping You to Use Mind Mapping Effectively 30

Branches – it’s all connected 30

Keywords instead of phrases 32

The exception proves the rule 34

A Picture Says More Than a Thousand Words 35

Colours – not just pretty to look at 35

Your personal set of symbols 36

Boxes and clouds – highlighting what’s important 38

Making arrow connections quite clear 39

Chapter 4: Why Mind Mapping Works 41

Different Routes to Information 42

Pictures: Unique and unforgettable 43

A picture says more than a thousand words 44

How we think 45

Mind Mapping as a Brain-Friendly Technique 46

More Than Just the Sum of its Parts 48

The big picture and details 48

More information dimensions and greater information density 48

Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 51

Chapter 5: Preparing Talks and Lectures Using Mind Maps 53

Freedom and Flexibility with Mind Maps at All Times 53

Preparing Lectures: Step by Step 55

Step 1: Marshalling your initial thoughts 55

Step 2: Determining the main themes 57

Step 3: Adding detail 58

Step 4: Testing the Mind Map 59

And Now for an Example 59

Chapter 6: Handling Text with Mind Mapping 61

Converting Text and Sentences into a Mind Map 61

Example: Motivation 62

Example: Email guideline 65

Interlude: Scientific Definitions as a Mind Map 67

Processing Whole Books with Mind Mapping 68

The best way of dealing with the text 70

Chapter 7: Note-Taking in Talks, Lectures and Meetings 73

Block Text or Mind Map 73

Characteristics of talks, lectures and meetings 75

Give it a try! 77

Colour and symbol codes 79

Informative Conversations 80

Just Write It Out – Using Your Wandering Thoughts 80

Mind Mapping = in – out to the power of ten 81

Part III: Mind Mapping Software 83

Chapter 8: Software versus Traditional Mind Mapping 85

Software versus Pen and Paper – The Main Differences 86

The advantages of Mind-Mapping software over pen and paper 88

Mind-Mapping Software = Mind Mapping Reloaded 91

Chapter 9: Taking a Tour of Mind-Mapping Software 93

Suggested Programs – Genuine Mind Mapping 93

Overview of Desktop Programs 94

Aviz Thoughtmapper 95

Concept Draw MindMap 96

EMINEC MYmap 97

freemind – really free 98

iMindMap – from the inventor of Mind Mapping 99

Inspiration – recommended for schools 100

MindGenius 101

Mindjet MindManager – the market leader 102

MindVisualizer – particularly simple 103

MindMapper 104

Novamind 105

Matchware MindView 3 106

XMind – the basic version is free 107

Web-Based Mind-Mapping Programs 108

Mapmyself 108

Mind42 – simple and free of charge 109

MindMeister 109

Mindomo 110

Comparing Software Packages 111

Chapter 10: Introducing Mindjet MindManager 113

The Basics: Finding Your Way Around 114

Important control keys 115

Keeping it neat and tidy: Formatting options 115

Quick notes within branches 116

Hyperlinks – Integrating More Information into a Mind Map 118

Inserting hyperlinks – how it works 119

Less is More: Filter Functions 120

Simple but useful: Fading branches in and out 121

Power filter: Filtering by specific criteria 122

Project Management with GANTT Diagrams 124

Adding task information to branches 124

Exporting and Processing 126

Sharing your Mind Map 127

Mindjet Player – interactive pdf document 128

pdf – easy and practical 128

Image fi les for integration into other documents 128

Pack&Go – and all the links work 128

Word – presenting a Mind Map as a linear document 129

PowerPoint – from branches to bullet points 129

Presentation Mode: From Mind Map to Presentation in a Single Click 131

Chapter 11: Exploring ThinkBuzan’s iMindMap 133

Basic Use – Finding Your Way Around 134

Branches 135

Three kinds of branch 137

Two Input Methods: Mind Mapping and Speed Mind Mapping 138

Speed Mind Mapping – how it works 138

Formatting with iMindMap 138

SmartLayout: From linear to radial Mind Maps 140

Project-management mode: GANTT view 142

Project Management with iMindMap, Step by Step 143

Step 1: Select the branches concerned 143

Step 2: Inputting task details 144

Step 3: Adjusting views 145

Presenting the Mind Map 145

Really quite presentable: Presentation mode 145

An alternative: Exporting as a PowerPoint presentation 147

Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 149

Chapter 12: Mind Mapping Reading Techniques 151

Appreciating the Fine Art of Preparation 152

Step 1: Skimming the text 152

Step 2: Recalling background knowledge 153

Step 3: Setting questions and aims 153

Honing the Reading Process 154

Step 1: Skim reading 155

Step 2: Preview 155

Step 3: Immersion 156

Step 4: Difficult passages 156

For Advanced Students: Generating a Mind Map from Different Sources 159

Chapter 13: Learning and Preparing for Exams with Mind Mapping 161

Preparing for Exams 161

Step 1: Taking Mind-Mapping notes 162

Generating special Study Mind Maps 163

Step 2: Entering your own thoughts 163

Step 3: Revising regularly 164

Step 4: Explaining it to others 165

Especially for Students: Generating Study Mind Maps from Different Sources 165

Chapter 14: Project Management with Mind Mapping 169

‘One Page Management’: Everything on a Single Page 169

Software is Sensible 170

Projects You Can Plan and Control with Mind Maps 172

Structuring projects with Mind Mapping 172

Further Examples of Mind Mapping in Project Management 177

Planning a business trip 177

Managing distance learning 179

Chapter 15: Knowledge Management with Mind Mapping 181

Keeping Your Eye on the Ball 181

Assembling Digital Information in a Mind Map 182

Example: Personal start centre 183

Multi-Level Mind Maps 185

Managing scientific work with Mind Maps 186

More Ways of Using and Applying Mind Maps 188

Chapter 16: Mind Mapping for Creativity 189

The 4P Creativity Model 190

Creativity yields results 190

It’s a personal thing 191

Modelling the creative process 191

Principles of creativity – two-stage thinking 193

Example: Publishing an eye-catching book 193

Mind Mapping as a Support in the Creative Process 194

Me on my own (no groups) 194

Using Mind Mapping in the second stage 196

Developing and Ordering Ideas with MindManager: A Step-by-Step Approach 196

Step 1: Formulating an issue 197

Step 2: Inputting ideas 198

Step 3: Evaluating ideas 198

Step 4: Structuring ideas 201

Part V: The Part of Tens 203

Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Working Efficiently with Mind Mapping 205

Using the Right Paper 205

Having the Right Equipment Ready 206

Using the One-Word Rule 207

Working with Symbols 207

Perfection Not Required! 208

Writing in Block Capitals 209

On Paper: Organic Mind Maps 209

Writing in Reading Order 210

Developing Mind Maps Outwards and Not Writing Vertically 211

Storing Your Mind Maps 212

Filing away hand-drawn Mind Maps 212

Generating master copies 213

Using tablet PCs 213

Chapter 18: (Almost) Ten Tips on How to Make Mind Mapping Your Everyday Working Tool 215

Practise, Practise and Practise Again! 215

Start Small and Take It From There 216

Trying It in Non-Critical Situations 218

Don’t Make Mixed Notes 218

Having Materials Always to Hand 219

Making Mind Maps Visually Appealing 220

Have Fun! 220

Drawing Maps by Hand and with Software 221

Choosing Your Software 221

Index 223

Florian Rustler is a licensed Mind Mapping trainer based in Munich, who trained with Tony Buzan. Within the last six years he has given more than 300 Mind Mapping seminars. Some of the organisations he has worked with include Bosch, MTU, Siemens and Volkswagen as well as various trade chambers and universities.