Mind Mapping A New Era of Learning

Question: Discuss about theMind Mappingfor aNew Era of Learning. Answer: Introduction: Mind mapping is a technique of drawing diagrams that includes explicitly organized information so that the information can be visually recalled (Nilson 2016). Mind maps represents relationships among information as a whole or in between pieces of information. A mind map is usually centered on particular concepts. Relationships between information of pieces of information are drawn as branches and sub branches emerging from the key concept located in the center of the page. This essay discusses upon the history, process of creating mind maps, its uses and research work related to the subject. In addition, it also forms arguments regarding the subject. Background: In the 1970s, there was an idea called sun bursting. This is nothing but a multilevel pie chart that was used to visualize hierarchal data. The idea of mind mapping is very similar to this concept. The practice of mind mapping dates back to the 3rd century when Porphyry of Tyros visualized the categories of Aristotle graphically. Later Ramon Llull used the similar technique during 1235-1315. However, Tony Buzan popularized the concept of mind mapping in recent times. According to Buzan, readers normally scan pages in a non-linear fashion and that is what make mind maps effective learning tool (Buzan 2007). Methods of Creating Mind Maps: Buzan formed a methodical approach for creating mind maps. According to his guidelines, a mind maps should start with a picture of the topic residing in the centre of the page coded with three different colors. Information related to the topic should be stated as key words and and lines should connect the information to the topic as braches. Using upper and lowercase letter while stating the information and using different colors may help stimulation the learning centre of brain making line maps an efficient learning tool. In addition, mind maps should be easy to recognize and clear when branches are drawn to represent hierarchal relationships (iMindMap 2016). Research Work Related to Mind Maps: Mind maps as a tool for structuring information has been a topic of discussion for the past few years. Significant amount of research had been done also for determining its efficiency as a learning tool. John M. Coulter of Western New England University tried to find the efficiency of mind maps to improve Audit education. The results of his study concluded that using mind maps to structure coursed work had been an interesting tool for effectively organizing the lecture materials. Students reacted positively towards mind maps and reviewed that it helped them in understanding and remembering their notes and coursework (Coulter 2016). Another study by Marsen and Wen tried to find the effectively of mind maps in learning history. They used two different groups of five students in which the control groups did not know constructing and using mind maps for learning historical data where as the test group knew the the practice of mind maps. Results of their investigation concluded that mind maps can successfully increase a persons learning capacity regarding history (Masran and Wen 2016). The effectively of mind maps in teaching elementary school students have been studied by Emmelien Merchie and Hilde Van Keer of GHENT UNIVERSITY. They investigated 35 elementary school teachers and 644 students from 16 different schools in order to obtain results. The capacity to summarize information graphically related to particular subjects was assed in the said study. The results of the study concluded that learning usage of mind mapping to summarize data proved to be an effective learning tool for fifth and sixth grade students (Merchie and Van Keer 2016). Uses of Mind Maps: Mind maps have a wide variety of use these days both professionally and personal life. Mind maps organize information in such a form that it is easily recognized and registered in the brain. That helps boosting learning capacity. It also helps a person during recalling particular information regarding a particular topic (Buzan 2007). A mind map also encourages creative thinking. It allows new ideas to be incorporated into a persons thought process. In addition, learning through mind maps, increase problem-solving capacity that in turn helps in learning process. Mind maps enable a person to see all the issues related to a topic (Buzan and Buzan 2010). As discussed earlier in the research section a mind map helps in planning specific course work. Not only course work, mind maps also help in constructing event plans and presentations as well. Organizing a vast array of information is very easy with mind maps. It enables a person to take constructive decisions regarding a particular event. In majority of cases, mind maps are used in educational area. It is also used in business situations that include brain storming new ideas. Summarizing complicated information, ideas is easier with mind maps (Somers et al. 2014). Future of Mind Maps: According to Tony Buzan, in near future Mind Mapping will be the most widely practiced method of learning and will built nests all the way through the World Wide Web. He predicted that websites and computer technologies would find significant use for Mind Maps as these would allow channeling different forms of human thinking. In future Mind maps will become the ultimate tool for knowledge building and will truly create a Global Brain for developing human intelligence (Buzan and Buzan 2010). Limitations of Mind Maps: Mind maps have some limitations as well. Mind maps do not incorporate detailed information regarding a subject but just key points. Rules of mind mapping should be strictly followed in order to achieve optimum results otherwise, ineffective maps are produced. Personalized maps may be illegible by others and creating mind maps is a time consuming process (Intranet.birmingham.ac.uk 2017). Conclusion: Mind maps are very similar to spider diagrams but these include a methodical approach for building up information regarding a particular topic. In present mind maps found a variety of uses in a large number of sectors. There are many software tools available for creating mind maps as well. The future of mind maps as a study tool is also very promising. In conclusion, it can be said that mind maps are the ultimate form of gather knowledge now and will remain so in future until a new and better approach emerges. References: Buzan, T, 2007. Maximise the Power of Your Brain - Tony Buzan MIND MAPPING. Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlabrWv25qQ. Buzan, T, and Buzan, B, 2010. The Mind Map Book. BBC Active/Pearson, Harlow, Essex, UK Coulter, J.M., 2016. Mind mapping as a tool to improve audit education.Journal of business and educational leadership,6(1), p.76. iMindMap, 2016. How to MindMap. viewed 10 September, 2016,https://imindmap.com/how-to-mind-map/ Intranet.birmingham.ac.uk. (2017). Mind mapping. [online] Available at: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/studentservices/disability/learning-support/effective-learning/skills/mind-mapping.aspx [Accessed 4 Feb. 2017]. Masran, M. and Wen, C.Y., 2016. The Effectiveness Usage of Mind Map in Form Fives Academic Performance in History.Advanced Science Letters,22(8), pp.1973-1976. Merchie, E. and Van Keer, H., 2016. Stimulating Graphical Summarization in Late Elementary Education: The Relationship between Two Instructional Mind-Map Approaches and Student Characteristics.The Elementary School Journal,116(3), pp.487-522. Nilson, L.B., 2016.Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors. John Wiley Sons. Somers, M.J., Passerini, K., Parhankangas, A. and Casal, J., 2014. Using mind maps to study how business school students and faculty organize and apply general business knowledge.The International Journal of Management Education,12(1), pp.1-13.