Mind map

Draft

Definition

A Mind map is a kind of concept map or more generally speaking a visualization that arranges items around a central idea.

• “A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.” (Wikipedia, retrieved 13:28, 18 August 2007 (MEST)

Mind maps were made popular by Tony Buzan, who was the first to publish extensive guidelines.

Design guidelines

According to Mediawiki (, retrieved 13:28, 18 August 2007 (MEST)), Buzan (1991) suggests the following desing guidelines for structuring a Mind Map:

1. Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors.
2. Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your Mind Map.
3. Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.
4. Each word/image must be alone and sitting on its own line.
5. The lines must be connected, starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the centre.
6. Make the lines the same length as the word/image.
7. Use colors – your own code – throughout the Mind Map.
8. Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.
9. Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.
10. Keep the Mind Map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace your branches.

Danny Stevens made this mind map of the mind map guidelines:

Danny Stevens, Mind map of mind map guidelines, Copyright: GFDL

In education

(needs to be written)

Mind maps are popular in class-room teaching at all levels. Some popular use cases are:

• note taking
• brain storming (to detect dimensions of a problem/concept)

Software

There are loads of mind mapping and concept mapping software and I don't have time to sort them out. Rather check out Wikipedia's good list of mind mapping software

Commercial

• MindManger from MindJet (between $80 and $300)

Free (open source or not)

• FreeMind, multiplaform (Java based). Good XHTML export. There also is an embedding extension for MediaWikis (we should try this sometimes).

(Somewhat) Free Web-based applications

You might find more in our incomplete list of web 2.0 applications. These service usually allow you draw a limited amount of mind maps for free. Best to try these, before you install something on your computer.

• Meindmeister
• bubbl.us
• Mindomo
• Tex2Mindmap (automatic generation from text input)

Commercial web applications

• MeadMap
• Mapul

Links

Mind map Web sites

• Mind-mapping.org Software for mindmapping and information organisation.

Mind Map Software indexes

• List of mind mapping software (Wikipedia)

Free mind maps

• Mindmaps directory from Topicscape (includes also different kinds of concept maps)

Online map map applications

• Wikimindmap.org allows to visualize relationships between wikipedia pages.
• A simpler SVG tool is available to your left in the toolbox.

Introductions

• Mind map - Wikipedia

References

• Buzan, T. (1991). The Mind Map Book. New York: Penguin. Chapter "Mind Mapping Guidelines"

• Buzan, T. (1991). The Mind Map Book. New York: Penguin

• Farrand, P.; Hussain, F.; Hennessy, E. (2002). "The efficacy of themind map' study technique". Medical Education 36 (5): 426-431. Retrieved on 2005-05-05.

• Pressley, M., VanEtten, S., Yokoi, L., Freebern, G., & VanMeter, P. (1998). "The metacognition of college studentship: A grounded theory approach". In: D. J. Hacker, J. Dunlosky, & A. C. Graesser (Eds.), Metacognition in Theory and Practice (pp. 347-367). Mahwah NJ: Erlbaum