At its core, a mind map is a diagram that visually connects a central topic or concept to related concepts, ideas, words, projects, or tasks. In learning, we will come into contact with a lot of knowledge points, and when we think, we will also have many ideas. If our room is a mess, we need to clean it quickly. What should we do when our minds are full of ideas? Using mind maps can help you manage your “knowledge assets” efficiently.
What is mind mapping
Research shows that the characteristics of human thinking are radioactive. Every piece of information, every feeling, memory or thought that enters the brain can become a thinking center. However, the brain does not organize all information in a strict hierarchical structure for diffusion. Therefore, mind maps are based on the characteristics of the brain, including the logic, order, rules, words, and numbers of the left brain, and the images, imagination, and colors of the right brain. , space, whole, etc., using a systematic way of thinking and making full use of techniques that emphasize both graphics and text, thereby unlocking the unlimited potential of the human brain.
A mind map is an external representation of the brain’s radial thinking. It uses a central keyword or phrase to stretch out from a center and connect all represented words, ideas, tasks or other related projects in a radiating line. Each of its The branches all represent content related to the center. Colors, lines, pictures and multi-dimensional graphics and text are used to enhance the memory effect, so that people’s focus is clearly focused on the central figure.
As an efficient thinking model, mind mapping can help us strengthen our thinking and clarify our ideas to the greatest extent. Therefore, mind mapping is used by many teams and is a tool with powerful communication and creativity.
How to make a mind map
A mind map is essentially a visual diagram that can restore the brain’s process of thinking and generating ideas. It is not only concise and clear, but more importantly, it sees the “logical connections” between things and finds the way the brain processes information. The method of making a mind map is not complicated. As long as you master the following five core elements, you can quickly create a mind map:
Create a central idea – This is the starting point of the mind map and represents the topic that is about to be explored;
Connect the central image to the main branches – connect the main branches to the secondary branches, connect the tertiary branches to the secondary branches, and so on;
Add branches and new keywords – create multiple keywords around the central idea and arrange them evenly to stimulate more associations;
Add relationship lines between topics – boundaries, association lines, icons, priorities, etc. to clarify the interrelationships between topics.
Mark branches with colors – connect vision and logic through different colors to help the brain create thinking shortcuts
What are the benefits of mind mapping?
Making a mind map is one of the most effective ways to encourage the team to come up with the best ideas. When making project ideas, list all the elements that need to be considered. A “panoramic picture” can be formed in the mind map, which takes care of both When it comes to macro goals, details will not be missed.
It is worth noting that before the team starts brainstorming, it should always think around key themes. From each “main idea” branch, there will be “secondary idea” branches to further explore the previous theme. . The ideas related to each branch are also interrelated, which gives the mind map unprecedented depth and breadth. Users can understand the logical structure and all contents at a glance through an online mind map.
Brainstorm ideas, make connections between ideas, and gain insight into the issues behind problems;
Strengthen team collaboration, establish positive relationships between teams, and be able to inspire the team’s potential;
It helps to stimulate associations and creativity, and integrate various scattered wisdom and resources into a system;
Boring information can be colored and regularized to form an intuitive and easy-to-understand thinking chart to facilitate brain thinking.
Now that you know how to use mind mapping to boost creativity, communicate better, and come up with a foolproof project plan, it’s time to decide how to organize it all with your team.
12 common mind map types!
Common mind maps can be divided into 12 types, including bubble mind maps, double bubble mind maps, tree mind maps (dendrograms), process mind maps, multiple flow charts, bracket mind maps, Wayne mind maps, fish Bone Mind Map, Circle Mind Map, Time Thinking Line (Timeline), Bridge Mind Map, Organizational Structure Chart (Organizational Structure Chart), each mind map type is introduced one by one below:
1.Bubble mind map
Bubble mind map, also known as bubble mind map, consists of many bubbles, with the central bubble theme as the center, and the surrounding bubbles surrounding the central bubble describe the relevant attributes of the central bubble, and serve to analyze, explain and describe things in an integral manner. effect.
2.Double bubble mind map
The double bubble mind map is an upgrade based on the bubble map. It is mainly used to contrast and compare two things. Through the graphics, the commonalities and differences between the two can be clearly and clearly found. We can compare new and old knowledge points through double bubble charts to help ourselves build a knowledge system.
3. Tree thinking map (dendrogram)
The so-called tree thinking map is like a tree, with the trunk as the main body, and branches and twigs diverging from the trunk to summarize knowledge. It is mainly used for grouping and classification, helping us classify things and find the differences between things. commonalities and characteristics among them.
4. Process thinking map
Process thinking maps mainly show the evolution of things and illustrate the order and process of things happening. They can analyze the internal logic of things through their continuity and can also be used to cultivate procedural thinking and coordination abilities.
5.Multiple process thinking map
Multiple flow charts are causal thinking, clarifying the causes and consequences of the development of events, and are used to determine the cause and impact of an event. They are often suitable for complex processes or situations where multiple branch events occur.
6. Bracket mind map
Bracket mind maps use brackets to express the relationship between the whole and parts. It is often used to display things and their components and establish a sense of space. It can also be used to show the inclusion relationship of knowledge and analyze the knowledge structure.
7.Wayne Mind Map
A Venn diagram, also called a Venn diagram, is a diagram that uses a circle or ellipse to show the overlapping area of a collection of elements. It is mainly used to show mathematical or logical connections between different groups (sets) of things, and can also be used to express the commonalities and individualities between things.
8. Fishbone mind map
Fishbone thinking map, also called cause-and-effect diagram, is a graphical method for discovering the root cause of a problem. You can see the essence of the problem through the phenomenon, and find a solution by getting to the bottom of the problem. This thinking structure can intuitively depict the relationship between problem characteristics and explain how various causes appear in sequence and influence each other.
9. Circle mind map
Circle thinking maps are mainly used to define a thing and are very suitable for divergent thinking and free association. It consists of an inner circle and an outer circle. The inner circle expresses the theme, and the outer circle can fill in any content related to the theme without any restrictions.
10. Timeline thinking map (timeline)
Timeline thinking maps, also called timelines, connect a series of things through time order, theme trends, processes, etc., and are mostly used to record the development of important events or show the progress and process of a theme.
11. Bridge mind map
This is a diagram used primarily to make analogies and analogies. Write a group of related things above and below the bridge-shaped horizontal line, and then follow this correlation to list more things with similar correlations.
12.Organogram Mind Map
Organogram Mind Map are usually used to show the relationships among people, levels, positions, responsibilities, etc. within an organization. They can also be used to show the logical relationships between top, bottom, left, and right under a theme.
