How would you feel if you got 1 out of 20 (5%) for a test or exam? Upset? Angry? Disappointed? This happened to me 6 years ago for my first open book test for law at university. Still to this day I can remember the awkward feeling of taking the test, flipping through my books wildly trying to find answers to the questions in front of me and having no idea what I was doing.
I knew that I didn’t get 5% because I was stupid. Walking out of that test I knew what was missing was an effective way to study. You see, I had managed to get good marks in high school by rote learning (spending hours and hours reading my text books and notes, and being able to repeat it like a parrot). But I never really understood what I was learning, which could explain why I didn’t really enjoy my subjects and graduating from high school was such a relief!
All of that changed when I learnt how to mind map.
For my next test for law (they gave me a second chance), all that I brought in with me was a bunch of simple mind maps. I remember feeling confident and in control doing that test. I got my test paper back and my score had jumped from 1 out of 20 to 15 out of 20. I’m now in my final semester of law, and I can honestly say that I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for my mind maps.
Why do mind maps work so well as a study tool? They engage you in whole brain thinking and allow you to see the big picture (how all the different ideas are to connected to one another). I find that they also help me to clarify my thoughts, simplify complex ideas, memorise information and allow me to be creative so I don’t get as bored as easily.
How can you mind map? Below is a step by step process on how you can create a mindmap. The example used is preparing an event (i.e. school ball), but you could mindmap anything else (e.g. subjects).
Step 1: Grab some coloured pens/pencils, a blank piece of paper and turn it sideways. In the centre of the page draw the first image that comes to mind on the topic you are mindmapping. Label the image.
Step 2: Branch off from your central image and create one of your main ideas (think of each branch as being like a chapter in a book). Label the branch. You can also draw a picture for it.
Step 3: From your main branches draw some sub-branches and from those sub-branches you can draw even more branches. What you are beginning to do is create associations between ideas.
Step 4: Draw pictures for each branch or for as many branches as possible. Make each picture as absurd, funny and/or exaggerated as possible. The reason for this is that we think in pictures and remember vivid, exaggerated images more easily.
Step 5: Draw another main branch but this time use a different colour. Colour helps to seperate out different ideas and keeps your mind stimulated). Draw sub-branches and pictures. If you get bored at any stage, move on and create another branch.
Stage 6: Keep repeating the above process (different colours, main branch, sub-branches and absurd pictures). Make sure each branch is curved and not a straight line. The brain is more stimulated by curved lines.
Step 7: Voila! You have created a mind map. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a work of art. Allow yourself to be as messy and creative as you like. It doesn’t matter if other people can’t understand your mind map. You just need to be able to.
If you’d like to see how mind maps have been used to simplify complex topics such as global warming, click here.
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[...] know (my holidays are coming up!). If you’d like to learn how to mind map for yourself click here or pick up one of Tony Buzan’s brilliant [...]
Brilliant article, Jane.
Love the steps through the mind map and your openness and honesty about how this technique has improved your education experience.
Stumbled it for all students to read and apply
S.
What about math?
You can mind map mathematical concepts. I did that for all my statistics units at university and it helped me a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, I still had to practice solving problems (over and over), but mapping out the core concepts was a great way to start.
Why not try it and see how it goes.
I love the way you explain things so much!
can you recommond some software?
yes, I like the way of explaining the Mind Mapping.
and I recommend Nova-Mind Software !!!
[...] Mind maps Below are various mind maps created by Sharon Genovese about global warming and issues related to it (e.g. population). For further information relating to each mindmap you can download the ebook Global Warming: A Mindmapper’s Guide to the Science and Solution by clicking here. If you would also like to learn how to mind map, click here. [...]
i think i’v fount a new studying technic….and just in time. my exams are in 2 weeks!!!
[...] Mindmaps are great tools to spark creativity. Download Freemind or use crayons and paper. Check out this article for a step-by-step guide on how to use a [...]
[...] Mindmaps are great tools to spark creativity. Download Freemind or use crayons and paper. Check out this article for a step-by-step guide on how to use a [...]
[...] Mindmaps are great tools to spark creativity. Download Freemind or use crayons and paper. Check out this article for a step-by-step guide on how to use a [...]
This is a very heartwarming website, i appreciate the openness and sharing of the mind mapping technique and the global warming maps that are for everyone to see, read and use them. Really great!
Thank you!
[...] How to Mind Map for Study Success @ Learning Fundamentals [...]
heyah..thx for the information..i’m having my exam in 4 weeks and i still dunno how to start until i read your “mindmapring” article..thanks..
Great information. I do workshops for students on various study techniques and would like to use this information to summarize my overall presentation.
Thanks Crystal. I’m happy for you to use this information in your presentations. Best of luck!
Thanks for this lesson, Jane. And I was impressed by the Global warming maps also.
[...] How to Mind Map for Study Success @ Learning Fundamentals [...]
thanks for your help!
Thanks for this post. I realized that I was breezing through University by rote learning. I recently transferred programs here and I realized that rote studying would not get me anywhere. I hope this can help!!
Hello, I have read this article. It’s amazing. But i am in std. 12th. How will I manage chart with colours? It will take more time.thank you very much.
Hi Jane, excellent way to explain the mind map. I’m doing law exams at the moment, nas was wondering how you contruct an effective mind map as you study. should you read the content, and then contruct a mind map, or do you create one while reading the material? thanks!
Hi Richard
Great question! You can use mind maps to prepare for your law exams in a number of ways.
This is what I usually do to prepare for my exams (with mindmaps)…
1. First I just read the content. Usually the content doesn’t make much sense the first time I read it but I get a rough idea of the main ideas.
2. Then I sit down and mind map out the content while reading the material (sometimes I will mindmap out every sentence!). This can take some time, but this really allows me to gain a deep understanding of the material.
3. Then I convert the content on my mindmaps into flashcards.
Hope this helps and all the best with your exams!
i really liked the way through which u ‘ve explained……thanks its really very helpful…..
Hello all,
i was looking for some ideas on legal maps so that I could inspire myself. Im afraid my maps are too strict, too exact copies of lectures&textbooks. I know the mindmaps with a main idea on each branch can give a great review of the most essential ideas but the point is that law is full of data, definitions and Im not sure how to present them not to influence the clarity of it.
So could you share with us some of your legal masterpieces?
Have a good day!
In answer to your question:
http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/how-to-mind-map-for-legal-tests-and-exams/
Hi
Thanks for your message. You are spot on, law is full of data, definitions, cases, etc so it can be quite difficult just to include main ideas in a word or two.
Because most of my legal exams were open book exams, I did have a lot more text on my mind maps than the examples I’ve given on this website. I was quite happy to include whole definitions on my mind maps (but of course, they were broken down in picture form too).
All that being said, my friend Andrew who studied law with me only drew pictures on his mindmaps (hardly any words!)…pretty amazing!
I will create a blog post this week on how I mind mapped for my law degree and post up some examples of my mind maps.
[...] and not so sure how to go about creating mind maps, I recommend that you read my blog post on How to mind map for study success and also try to get a copy of Tony Buzan’s brilliant little book ‘How to mind [...]
I hope that this mindmap gives me an “A” in this class because I want to gsee New Moon with my friends
I say forget the software. Every place on the web where I see mind maps I also see software for people to use. Hell, I know plenty of artists and have completed an art degree myself. There main connection will be made with paper and pencil (or pen or crayon or maker or hell…paintbrush). There is a physical connection between the brain and the body (your hand) that a computer software can’t replace. Try it out for 30 days and see what happens……
Hi,
I am a mature student and doing a-level chemistry and biology. It seems very hard subjects, anyone cal help me how to drwa mind maps for biology topics very hard they are. many thanks
I agree with shahid. I insert a picture/photograph into iPages on my Mac, print it off,then hand draw the map.
Hi David,
Thanks for the reply. Where is that picture/photograph on ipages which you advised me to print it off. many thanks