Mind map your training
Did I learn it from Bob Pike or from David Allen? I no longer remember, but after I learned how to mind map, nothing was the same. It was all better. That's thanks to the late, great thinker and educator Tony Buzan, who developed this simple but extraordinary visual thinking tool.
The secret to mind mapping and why it's so powerful is the relationship between ideas. This is what allows you to remember them, contextualize them, and manage them.
Key info on Mind Maps in Mind Map form
How to Mind Map in 60 seconds
- Put your central idea or topic in the center
- Your sub-topics are organized in branches coming off the central topic. (Above, those are "uses" and "key elements" and etc.
- List more details beneath each sub topic in what are referred to as twigs.
- Marvel as your ideas begin to flow effortlessly into these cool little camps you've made for them in your diagram.
You can hand write or use an app for your mind map. There's really no wrong way to do it! Look for a future post with more information on how to mind map, but in the meantime, just give it a try. Use one of the apps below:
Mind Mapping Apps
Lucid Chart has a free tier and a mind map tutorial here.
Miro – www.miro.com is an infinite whiteboard platform with mind-mapping capability. Amy uses this for Instructional Design storyboarding.
Mindmaps.app is my new favorite free instant online mindmap tool!
MindMeister – www.Mindmeister.com is great for collaborating with teams and turning your maps into task lists. Has free and paid tiers.
Mindly – www.mindlyapp.com is good for making mind-maps on the go.
MindNode for Apple users (works on ipad and iphone too).
Freemind for a free desktop option: https://sourceforge.net/projects/freemind/
To read more about mind-mapping:
Tony Buzan’s website: www.tonybuzan.com
The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential by Tony Buzan (Amazon affiliate link)