Mind Mapping

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Summarising Readings






Mind mapping can help you understand and remember the important issues in your readings.
We suggest you follow 5 steps in creating mind maps which summarise your readings.



1. Skim

Firstly, read the abstract, introduction , conclusion, key headings or chapter headings. When skimming through the text observe any diagrams, pictures or graphs. This gives you an overview of what you are about to read, puts it in context and may already give you some clues as to where the most relevant parts are located.


2. Read

Read the article in one sitting ( or chunk it into sections/chapters if it is a whole book) and go over any parts you are not quite sure of.


3. Mind Map

It is important to do the mind map from memory at this stage so don't consult the article or any other source of information.


4. Study

The mind map you have just done is very valuable as it will show both areas you have understood and also areas you are not sure of. Study your mind map to discover the gaps in your knowledge and refer back to the source material to fill in any of these gaps.


5. Personalise

Using different colours or symbols, add your own comments and questions to the mind map. Questions relating to relationships, implications, alternative approaches, usefulness, clarity, personal experience could all be considered at this stage. It is in this personalising stage where your mind map really starts to help you with your learning. The trick now is to address all those questions you have raised and to keep returning to your mind map with the answers!

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Sample Reading Mind Map

This mind map contains only the essential points a student picked up from the first reading of a text and was produced from memory alone. The student who produced this mind map then went on to add details and questions and then consult the text again. Notice how space has been left for this purpose.

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Lectures, Seminars, Workshops and Tutorials


Some students find it useful to create mind maps for various sessions where new information is presented.






Adds structure

All of these teaching strategies can be open-ended and free-flowing. Mind mapping can help you record information in a structure that suits your learning style and means something to you. The content may be coming at you thick and fast but a mind map allows you to put information where you want it and make the necessary connections.



Helps review

The open space of a mind map can allow you to revisit it in that first vital review after the session. It is in this first review that you can highlight key areas, gaps in your understanding and list questions that need to be addressed. Some students find it hard to consult a mind map during a lecture so they take standard notes in the lecture but construct a mind map afterwards in their first review of the lecture notes.



Suits repeated reviews

By continually returning to your mind maps of these sessions you can use the empty space to add new information and to expand on your understanding of the work covered in the session.


Better recall

By having all of the information covered in a session incorporated into a single mind map, many students find this an aid to them remembering what was covered.


Prompts questions

You mind map should raise some questions about the information you have received. These questions will need to be followed up on so it is important do develop your own set of symbols which will prompt further action by you.



Helps exam preparation

Imagine how useful it would be if you had a set of mind maps for each of your lectures! These mind maps would show you the areas where you had difficulty and include the follow-up information you added in order to clear these problems up. You would also be able to construct a mind map of the entire subject prior to the exam and this would help you identify the key themes and likely exam questions.

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Sample Lecture Mind Map

This mind map was produced from standard lecture notes so that a student could clarify the key points of the lecture. The mind map was produced in the first review after the lecture and was added to throughout the semester. It was then used for exam preparation.

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Other Links

Some detailed notes, including references to relevant texts are located at:
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/map_ho.html

If you would like to try using mind mapping for summarising some text then you could read the passage at:
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/class1.html

You could then compare your mind map with the one located at:
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/class1a.html

The following site will allow you to download a trial software package called Inspiration which lets you create mind maps on your computer.
http://www.inspiration.com/general_biz.html

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Credits and Evaluation

The development of these modules was undertaken by the Learning Advisers in the Academic Support Division of James Cook University.
Content for this module was developed by Alan Calder. Project management, instructional design and initial programming has being undertaken by Alan Calder. Programming is being completed by Annette Lewis with graphic artwork by Tony Cowan and Bob Jones.
Selected References
Buzan, T. (1991). The mind map book . New York: Penguin.
Paul, K. (1996) Study smarter not harder. Vancouver : Self-Counsel Press.
Please assist in the on-going development of this module by completing and submitting an evaluation form or contact Alan Calder.



FINISHED

[كونزيت]

That was a great topic to be discussed

We need to organize the information in our minds inorder to draw these maps . They really help us to memorize things and build our debates.


Thanks alot dear brother