Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer mindmapping lectures

Hi everyone,

I followed the links posted in the "study skills resources" thread, and I have a few comments on the mindmapping technique explained there.

It seems that a lot of people suggest taking normal, linear notes, and then later converting them into a mindmap. While some may be happy with that, to me it seems like a waste of time. When listening to a lecture, I go straight to mindmaps, creating them "on-the-fly" if you will. I find that this is a great way to save time (and paper). The key, I think, is learning from experience how to pick out the important points and process them with radial thinking into a mindmap.

I have scanned a page from my AP US History notebook as an example for anyone who is interested.
http://old.danrules.com/mm.jpg

Any comments would be appreciated

-dan

For note taking some people prefer the cornell system, others prefer the herringbone technique and others prefer the slant technique. They must all work to some degree or another... personal preference.

I do have a question though. If you prefer to go straight into mind maps... how come you're using a ruled notepad?

Alex

Dude that is awesome! I just finished AP US and I had tried MMing the lectures but they always remained left-brained. Maybe I should practice it more.

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Originally posted by AlexK:

I do have a question though. If you prefer to go straight into mind maps... how come you're using a ruled notepad?
Alex

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Hehe..good question. I suppose the only answer I can give is "because at the beginnng of the school year I had a bunch of ruled notebooks and I thought I'd put them to use." I just pretend the lines aren't there; they don't bother me at all.

Hi there.
Personally i find i get more benefit by doing the mind map in the lecture. Lectures are rubbish in that the learning experience can be so passive. MMing helps me to interact with the lecture as i'm constantly thinking where to write everything and how things tie in with each other. I also leave colouring them in to when i do my revision.

MMing really does work, i MMed my entire A-level (english pre-uni exams) chemistry course and seriously aced it.

Cheerio.

nick

quote:

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Originally posted by nickuk:
MMing helps me to interact with the lecture as i'm constantly thinking where to write everything and how things tie in with each other.

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This is a VERY good point. I do exactly the same thing. When someone questions my 'odd' note-taking style, I tell them, "I COULD just mindlessly copy down everything the teacher writes on the board, but this way I am forced to process everything in my mind before it gets written down." This helps enormously, as reviewing simply means taking a quick look at the mindmap, rather than trudging through dense linear notes.

dan g

Re the ruled note book, I thought that might be your reply. It points out how easily one can start to do mind maps. I think many get a sort of shock when they learn about mind mapping. They get told you need to follow certain rules to create a good mind map.

EG
Use plain paper
Use Colours (have multi coloured pens)
Always start mind mapping with the paper in landscape format.

You've demonstrated that all thoses rules can be broken for a very effective mind map taken during a lecture. Simply use what you've got don't fuss around. I hope it inspires more students to just give mind mapping a go using what they have.

Alex