The humble mind map. Sometimes referred to as a brainstorm or a spider diagram, mind maps are a visual thinking tool which can be used to aid everything from idea generation to comprehension and knowledge retention. For many of the younger generation, mind maps are a typical part of daily school life and can be utilised by everyone from young children to college students and every age in between.
Estimates suggest that 250 million people worldwide use the mind mapping technique, and while it would be easy to underestimate its power, for students – in particular – mind maps offer a whole wealth of possibilities. If you’re still in education, it’s important to seek methods for active learning if you want to establish enduring knowledge. One of the best things about mind maps is their versatility, so here are 6 of the most popular uses of mind maps for students.
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Taking notes in lessons can be a serious task. Trying to write down every single thing your teacher or lecturer is saying is a futile effort, plus, it doesn’t even guarantee that everything they’re saying will actually stick. After all, you can’t write as fast as people talk. Using mind mapping to take notes is a much more efficient way of taking down key points, and the visual layout of the mind map means that you can organically organise lectures and lessons into the sections which make the most sense for you.
Whether you’re studying a classic novel, trying to get to grips with a new scientific theory or even analysing a director’s body of films, mind maps are a brilliant way of digesting information and analysing key moments. The fact that you can both easily break down information into – for example – chapters, while also providing offshoots of insight means you can create a fuller comprehension of the text or theory you’re working on.
Revising is that most-dreaded student task. If you’re tired of organising your highlighters, stacking your sticky notes, and – worst of all – copying out from the textbook, a mind map may just be the way to go. Especially when it comes to virtual mind maps like those available in Ayoa – you can capture ideas quickly, colour code different facts and add in visual cues to enhance the multi-sensory elements which help improve memory and association.
The hardest part of writing an essay is knowing where to start. While it might be tempting to dive right in and start writing, good essays are laid on a foundation of research and planning. You can kill two birds with one stone by easily organising research tidbits into a mind map, and then dragging and dropping them into the structure of your essay plan in your Ayoa mind map. The ability to pivot and be agile in your essay plan will help you create the best possible foundation when you sit down to get words on the page.
Aha! Finally, we come to the most common use of the mind map – idea generation. There’s a good reason this is the most famous use of the mind map. The whole point of a mind map is that it mirrors the natural pattern of human thoughts. Our brains, like mind maps, are much like webs with ideas interconnected by different threads of association. New ideas present themselves when we fuse together existing bits of information, hence the mind map helps you move from idea to idea until you’re feeling so creative the light bulb comes on above your head!
Last but not least, mind maps are a great tool for presenting in class. Especially, if you’re looking to move away from the typical PowerPoint you’ve seen a million times before. Opting for something like presentation mode in Ayoa , allows you to go through each individual mind map branch while also visually demonstrating the connection between each thought and point. You can easily show not only relationships but hierarchies, making storytelling through your mind map accessible, engaging and easy to remember.
Ayoa is an all-in-one platform that allows students to mind map and plan with ease. Integrations with Zoom and Google Drive allow you to stay productive and avoid switching between apps.
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Caragh Medlicott is a freelance writer and interim Editor of Wales Arts Review. After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University she began a full-time writing career in Wales. She is the author of several published short stories and was shortlisted for the Lunate 500 award in December 2020, and a finalist in Narrative’s 30 Below competition in 2021. She is a regular contributor to BBC Wales' The Review Show.
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