If the same boring, scattered note taking method did not work for you last year, why keep doing it? An alternative method, mind mapping, is an unconventional approach to note taking in which your brain has the potential to retain information easier. Mind mapping is a creative, but organized way to map out your ideas using key words, images, and various colors. It is a way to transform your notes into a highly memorable diagram that is efficient and more exciting for your brain to learn from and understand.
Mind maps give you a wide range of creative freedom to mold your notes into whatever you want them to look like. There are a few basic rules to follow in order for your mind map to be as effective as possible.
The first step is to place the main idea or subject of your notes in the center of a blank page. You can either use a keyword or an image to express this idea. Next, connect the important themes or sub categories to the main idea by branching them off from the center. From there, continue to add more information and important details to your subcategories by drawing smaller branches.
Remember to use key words and images, throughout, in order to effectively communicate the essential messages to your brain. To add creativity to your mind map and make it appealing to your brain, implement curved branches, contrasting colors and decorative details.
Mind mapping can also be used to organize and define your goals. One way you could do this is by creating two main branches for your goals -- school, and personal life. By separating your goals into two different realms, it brings clarity to which area of your life each specific goal belongs to. This will make it easier to identify what you want to improve on, and then form a plan to make it happen.
If you find that your old note taking ways are no longer working, or that your goals seem to be an impossible, scattered mess, try your hand at mind mapping. Mind mapping could transform your learning process by making boring information exciting and fun to learn, and it could bring organization to your life, giving you the necessary tools to achieve your goals.
