A 7-Step Guide to Effectively Using Mind Mapping for College Needs

mind mapping

Mind mapping is the latest trend that can help you organize the amount of information you get in college. It is clear that sometimes this amount of information can be overwhelming.

And acquiring the knowledge for future tests and exams can be stressful and can take a lot of time.

A mind map is a diagram that is used to visually organize information. It shows relationships between concepts and usually, it is very colored. Mind maps have a center concept on which the latter information is added.

Mind maps can either be drawn by hand or made with mind mapping software available. A mind map can be created while at courses, during group meetings or when learning about new concepts.

Professional essay writers from essay writing service uk use mind mapping when they work on essays and they highly recommend college students to use them.

But what do you need to create a mind map? Firstly, you should take a blank notebook, colored pencils, and your creativity and patience.

Here are seven steps to follow to create the most amazing mind maps that will help you easily learn new information and organize it in an eye-candy way.

  1. The Start

Always start in the center of your page. If you have a notebook, it is better to start your mind map in the middle of two pages, instead of one.

Why? Because your mind map will have a lot of branches, so you need to have space to link and extend them. Like this, your brain will have the freedom to use all its imagination and creativity on that paper.

  1. The Central Idea

When building a mind map, you need to have a central idea or a central topic which you will develop through the other branches. You can use a word or a sentence as a central idea or you can use a picture or an image.

Depending on the subject, sometimes it may be better to choose an image over a word.

Why? Because pictures and images are often more suggestive than words. Also, an image might help you concentrate better and maintain your focus.

  1. Use Colors

Well, one of the most important aspects when starting to build a mind map is using lots of colors. Well, maybe not lots but more than three at least.

Our brain is attracted by eye-candy and colorful things. Besides this, you can easily organize the information depending on colors and you can even create your own color code. Having a colorful mind map can help you learn easier the information and it also stimulates your creativity and imagination.

And your brain will be completely sucked in and it will be easier to enter that flow state when learning something new. Colors also add vibrancy and more energy to your mind map.

  1. Connect Main Branches

One of the most important steps when creating a mind map is carefully connecting the main branches to the central concept, idea, picture or image. The strategy behind mind mapping is that it helps you organize information by making associations. And this is how your brain learns.

Also, linking the branches in an orderly manner creates order in your brain too. It is important to carefully link the main branches to the main picture, then the second and third-level branches to the first level and so on.

Why? Because just like you connect them on the paper, the same connections form in your brain and it will be easier to retain and remember the information.

  1. Make Your Branches Curved

When you start to organize the information and put it in branches, you need to link them to different concepts. Writers from a pro essay writing service advise on making the lines curved and not straight. It appears that our brains like more curved lines, and not straight ones. Why?

Recent research has shown that people prefer curved objects because they signal a lack of threat. Safety is important for your brain, especially when he needs to learn new information. Of course, the way we perceive straight and curved lines depends on culture, environment, context or familiarity.

But when learning new information, linking the branches through a curved line is better and appealing.

  1. One Keyword per Line

Mind maps are diagrams that help you organize the information better. What is important to keep in mind is that you should express your ideas with a minimum of words. This means that you should use one keyword per line.

Like this, you save space for other branches and ideas and you also give your mind map more power and flexibility. Each word creates its connection and it can help you spark off more creative ideas.

  1. Use Images

You should not limit yourself to using only words. You can also use pictures or images to link different branches. Keep in mind that a colorful mind map will help your brain easily retain the information. And a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not use some?

It is important to have a specific and clear idea of the picture. Do not use something that has a meaning just for the moment.

Avoid choosing ambiguous pictures whose meaning can change. You will probably consult these mind maps when you will have exams, so try to make them as clear as possible.

Conclusion

Mind maps are an extraordinary invention. They are very helpful for college needs, where the amount of information is huge. Mind maps help you better organize the information in a visual diagram, something very appealing for your brain.

Use colors, images, pictures, and keywords to illustrate the information. Pay attention to every detail and make the lines curved, as they send a feeling of safety to your brain. You will notice that learning for exams will become easier if you use mind mapping.

Author Bio

Scott MathewsScott Matthews is a writer and editor at assignment writing services. He loves to write about education and technology and loves to give students tips on how to improve their college experience. He also offers essay writing services and writes research papers for best essay writing.

 

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