From: llarsen%peruvian.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Loren Larsen)
Subject: Mindmapping
Date: 21 Nov 92 11:52:20 MST
Reply-To: llarsen%peruvian.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu
Organization: University of Utah, CS Dept., Salt Lake City

Over the last few days, I have received several requested for more information
on mindmapping.  This posting constains a brief overview of why mindmapping is
so useful, some guidelines for creating mindmaps, and references on where to
get more information.

First, understand that this is a horrible medium for really describing what
a mindmap is because it is non-linear and in a sense multidimensional.

The idea of mindmapping is based on recent research on learning and notetaking.
To the best of my knowledge it was first developed by Tony Buzan.  When most
people take notes, they do it in sentence/paragraph form, or some sort of
list/outline form.  Recent studied have shown that sentence/paragraph form
contain 10 times more information than is necessary for the brain to 
remember.  In addition, it clutters the page with tons of "useless" words
and information.  By just recording keywords in your notes, the brain can
recall these much more easily and will fill in the gaps between keywords to
give you a much more perfect recall of the information.  The mind really
does not think in sentences.  How many sentences that you have ever 
written can you actually remember? 

Beyond just writing down keywords, mindmapping gives an organization to the
material as well as spatial concepts of images and color.  I'll list some
of the rules for creating a mindmap now and then explain the benefit of each.

- Begin with an image and/or keyword at the center of a blank page.  This will
  act as sort of a hub for the rest of your notetaking and should describe
  the topic.

- Next begin to create arcs or "spokes" from the hub for main ideas.  Each
  subtopic will become an arc from each of the arcs and so on.

							   /------------
							  /
			-------------			 /--------------
			+	    +   Color	        /
			+ Mindmaps  +-------------------
			+  +image   +			Keywords
			-------------              /----------------
				\   Organization  /Images :-)
				 \---------------/-----------------

- Use lots of color, make the words different colors and try if possible to
  make the color choice mean something.

- Don't spend lots of time, just be quick, don't plan your mindmap, let is
  grow spontaneously.  If you want to reorganize it later, fine, it will be
  a good review, but let your mind give it a "natural" organization.

- Use pictures and images as often as possible to augment the use of words.

- Review your mindmap when it's complete.  Review it the next day, a week 
  later, a month later, etc.  The review will really help to increase recall.

Those are some of the most basic rules.  This gives a new kind of structure
to your learning and information.  When you review, you aren't just rereading,
you are forcing your mind to recalling and filling in the information.  Your
recall and understanding of the material will increase DRAMATICALLY.  It's
much faster than usual notetaking and increases your mental capacity.  It
is much funner because you become actively involved and exercise your
creativity.

Okay, now for where to find more information.  There are several good books
on the subject.  The best is probably:

Use Both Sides of Your Brain
Tony Buzan

Mindmapping
Joyce Wycoff

These can usually be found in most bookstores and are often carried by 
business supply warehouse places, like Bizmart.

Loren Larsen
Newsgroups: alt.self-improve