What is mind mapping?
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but mind mapping is no more than a way to organize your thoughts on paper. It is, in some ways, a method of note taking. In other ways, it is a means to gather information on any topic and present it to any interested party. Mind maps have been used to organize thoughts around personal matters (finding a job) to work related matters (gathering user requirements for software development). Mind mapping can be used for any creative endeavor, writing, business, planning, project management, learning, studying and memory improvement.
Mind maps can be constructed using paper and pen or via software. I will review two mind mapping programs later.
The technique and structure of mind mapping is simple.
Start with a concept/idea/problem. I will use the example of “finding a new job”. Take a sheet of paper, place it in landscape position and write the phrase in the middle of the piece of paper.
Write “places to work” in the upper right, “people to contact” in the upper left, “websites to visit” in the lower right, and “resume to do list” in the lower left.
Each of these new categories then can have subpoints or branch out to new thoughts, etc.
It is hard to describe in words, a quick visit to the sites listed below will quickly give you the idea.
Think of mind mapping as a graphical means to do an outline or a decision tree.
Why talk about mind mapping on a site like this?
The goal of this site is to provide beginners with a comprehensive resource of tools to enable them to build their own websites. Mind mapping software is a tool that could help future web developers and content writers organize their work and their writing.
One last note, mind mapping is a technique and a tool. Like all such things, it may not prove to be useful to some people. It is not perfect for everything. I have found it useful for initial brainstorming and for organize thoughts when I need to write a longer article. Give it a try and leave your comments.
For more information on mind mapping check out the resources below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_mapping
http://www.mind-mapping.org/
http://www.mapyourmind.com/
http://www.buzancentres.com/
