Mindmapping Papers
My reading course paper is due at the end of the week, and I'm panicking. Somehow or another, I need to read some 200 research papers and digest them into a clear and coherent review of related literature.
There's no way I can do that on a computer. I just don't have enough screen space to keep everything visible, and I don't have enough brain space to see how everything's related to everything else.
Mind maps to the rescue.
I don't print out the research papers because I don't mind reading things on the screen. I also use the computer to keep track of interesting quotes because I've found that searching through a paper notebook can be very frustrating. Still, nothing beats paper for getting the big picture and understanding how things fit together.
I've written my central idea down on a sheet of paper and I've arranged a few ideas around it. While reading papers and reviewing my notes, I write down keywords and references near the ideas to which they're related. I can use another sheet of paper to elaborate on a particular area or rewrite sections for more clarity.
It's not just useful for research papers. I've used the same technique for presentations and reports, too. Mind maps are a great tool for organizing large documents because you can put ideas anywhere you want, and you can draw connections between them. Try them out next time you need to plan something big!
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Mind mapping and Da Vinci
Thanks for the link!
There's also an excellent chapter on mind mapping in a book that's been recommended on diyplanner.com for some time, and that I recently borrowed from my hubbie's bookshelf: "How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci". It is an odd, but interesting self help book.
Micheal J.Gelb illustrates how Da Vinci put mind mapping to great use, how to go about making your own mind maps, and gives examples of the tangible benefits that people have found from this way of exploring thought. As a right brained thinker this really speaks to me. I've intuitively used it in my sketchbooks on a smaller scale, but am encouraged to take it much further, and only wish I had read more about it while I was still a student. Among other things, Gelb claims that "Mind mapping allows you to start quickly and generate more ideas in less time; you'll find that thinking, working and problem solving become a lot more fun... it guides you to discover your own originality."
all the best, jp
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www.spaceabovethecouch.com
If you use mindmapping
If you use mindmapping software, then you can also link to the documents and upload images and figures. That can be awesome for large research projects, because you're collecting data while referencing at the same time.
I use freemind, myself.
That's a great tip, but I
That's a great tip, but I think I'll stick to paper (they say people that put things like goals in writing are more likely to succeed, and it also helps move things into long term memory.) I thought it was interesting that there was a limited success in improving memory while people were still learning a new technique. ie. they were more focused on the process of mind mapping rather than the content. I could see how getting comfortable with the process so it becomes second nature, and a true reflection of natural thought processes would change that outcome. This is part of the reason something like Thinking with Pictures for children interests me. This might be better done on paper, but without the right teacher software of this type might make the process accessible to some. I think if students were exposed to this as a note taking option as early as possible it may have a huge impact in encouraging positive benefits. Then again, it's never to late to learn.
How I use mindmaps
I have used both online mindmaps (freemind) as well as paper mindmaps.
I use paper mindmaps for my studies. It helps me a lot to remember the points. But I have trouble coming up with colours and icosn to associate with each node, when using paper. I try and use diferent coloured pens to draw different nodes. During exam times I can just 'see' it in front when I close my eyes.
I use freemind mainly for research. Recently I started a mindmap for virtualization technology (not finished it yet) It was useful to link the URL with each node.
-DP
http://desipenguin.blogspot.com/