In this blog, Manavi talks about how she uses mind maps as a creative learning tool to help break down complicated concepts and thoughts into simpler pieces of information in professional, academic, and personal settings.
Written by Manavi Goyal, Blog Editor & Content Writer, Honours Bachelor of Science, Psychology Specialist, Economics Major, and Sociology Minor
I discovered mind mapping in a particularly stressful study session with a friend. Picture this: You’ve been studying all day for the toughest course of your academic career and still can’t grasp the concepts. Then, your friend suggests simply drawing out the concepts in a visual diagram—specifically, a mind map. While I wasn’t initially convinced, the long hours of studying had their taken their toll on me, and I was desperate to try any thing that would help me understand the course material. So, I decided to toss my flashcards and accept my friend’s suggestion.
Surprisingly, the process of creating a mind map was one of the most fun activities I had done in days. My friend and I got coloured markers and started drawing a mind map on a whiteboard, mapping out different topics and their connection to others using different colours and images for each process. In the end, the whiteboard was filled with colorful clouds and information, all connected to each other to present a cohesive representation of our course material. Drawing out each concept allowed us to personalize the mind map with our own creative touch and simultaneously, understand the course material with higher clarity.
Using the mind map as a creative tool was fun and helped me excel in the exam! After this experience, I became invested in looking for ways to use mind maps in new contexts, beginning with my work at the Innovation Hub.
Overcoming My Writer’s Block with A Touch of Colour
An opportunity for a new application of mind maps came along during one of my blog team meetings at Innovation Hub. I had been working on an idea for a blog post, and regardless of how many brainstorming sessions we had, I couldn’t seem to craft a reasonable structure. When it started to feel like there was no way to bypass this writer’s block, my supervisors brought out a whiteboard and suggested that we draw out the blog I envisioned.
As we started branching out and connecting different ideas, we were able to disentangle the chaotic spiral of thoughts in my head and form a clear, cohesive theme for the article. From there, figuring out the structure of my blog post became easier, and we quickly decided on our pitch and approach to the outline. Within a few minutes, I was able to craft a physical representation of my ideas, link them creatively, and establish the foundation for my blog.
Charting A Clear Course in Design Research
I also found out that mind maps could be a perfect tool in research! In particular, our design research teams use mind maps in their data analysis to identify core themes in the data collected. When I attended a design research team meeting at the Innovation Hub, I saw how our design researchers often create visual diagrams as a foundation for their data analysis. After data collection is complete, the design research teams hold meetings to define the appropriate direction needed in their project reports to ensure that interviewee experiences are well represented. I watched them draw out inferred themes on a whiteboard to visualize how differences and similarities between everyone. The visuals helped the team craft a representation of the challenges students may face and build on resources that can help. By mapping the complex student emotions, design researchers were able to cohesively bring together various perspectives.
I sometimes struggle to find cohesive insights when analyzing multiple research papers in my academic work. I feel unsure of how to describe core themes considering each paper’s unique findings and fear I may be over or underrepresenting some insights. However, with mind maps, I find it much easier to contextualize core themes across research reports and their ensuing relationships. I can easily see how different insights overlap and establish stronger approaches to my papers. Now, I write my papers with more confidence knowing that I can organize complex themes and ideas using mind maps.
Mind Mapping My Way Through Life
After realising the potential of mind maps, I often suggest it to anyone who is struggling to understand concepts or needs a new approach to solving or understanding a problem. Mind maps are powerful tools for creative re-organization in a range of circumstances, from personal to professional. I have even used mind mapping to plan out a holiday with friends!
I find that personalizing my mind maps and making them visually pleasing with colours or imagery motivates me to work with stronger determination. It’s quite easy to freehand a mind map on any written surface and identify the connections between confusing topics, ideas, and more. Now, whenever I find myself grappling with conflicting and chaotic ideas, I can quickly sort it out with a mind map.
Finding A Creative Toolkit for Success
I’ve learned that mind maps allow a level of creative expression that I have not seen in flashcards or other means of processing information. However, mind maps may not always be the right fit and different problems can require different tools. What I’ve learned is that there are always new and creative methods to solve problems in different circumstances. After all, isn’t using a canvas at times more fun than a notebook?
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