Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer Mindmapping

I feel that mindmapping is the time when I reinforce what I have gained consious awareness of while activating. This is done by writing down as much as you can remember from one's activation of the book.

My question is: When mindmapping, do you only write down what you have memorised/can still remember from activation? Or do you flip through the book as you draw your mindmap?

Best is if you mind map what is already in your memory first. You know when you have the feeling like it's on tip of your tongue but you can't quite pull it from your inner mind right now? Well, that's when it becomes a good time to just flip to that page again so that you can put it into words.

On the whole mind mapping while you are activating can become problematic because it slows down your activation with the stop start process, as well as the risk of trying to map every thing in too great a detail, (getting bogged down in too much detail).

Deterimining what is important is easier when you have "all" the information, everything seems important when you first see it and yet when you've made the associations it becomes unnecessary to record it, in that great a detail because one key word clicks the rest of the recall.

I usually mind map after activating and I allow myself to review those passages for clarity afterwards so I'll flip pages for the passages that I want to record on my mind map. This is a kind of twice over effect and it sure helps the memory. It's suprising that the mind map can take as little as 5 minutes to get quite detailed from a 20 minute activation pass and that includes flipping pages to review passages or concepts. Add to the mind map after each activation pass.

Really do try and find what works best for you. Do you put your left shoe on first or the right? Watch yourself for a while and you'll discover its something you do consistently. That's what works for you.

Alex

[This message has been edited by AlexK (edited December 24, 2003).]

From my experience it is best to activate then mind-map. I find it best to use a pencil during activation for a quick note, then after few activations, I go back and make a mind map of all the key points I have highlighted for myself.

Important aspect I want to share with you:

A lot of people make a mistake of highlighting important key points of the text they are reading. This is a mistake because it is time consuming. Highlight and write down only that information which is new for you. Other then that you already know. That way you will save a lot of time for yourself.

The exception to this activate-before-Mind Mapping rule is syntopic reading, correct? Or, Ivan, would you also recommend that I make a quick pass through the book just writing short notes down so then I have triggers for important Mind Map branches/quotations?

I began the syntopic process for an AP American project, (which I still need to finish) Mind Mapping while superreading/dipping. As a beginner I found the process quite frustrating because the stop/start exacerbated my already imperfect tendency to want to dip too much and to comprehend everything with the first layer. Is there a modification of this technique that is better-suited to beginners? I figured since I already was learning how to PhotoRead, why would I ever revert back to the old way of researching? Syntopic reading sounds a LOT more efficient--when done correctly!

-Cameron

I usually only mind map when I can't get the book to gel after a couple of passes through it and/or I need to remember the stuff.
When I mind map I usually do so by structure then fill later on another activation session.

quote:

---

Originally posted by CameronJ:
[B]The exception to this activate-before-Mind Mapping rule is syntopic reading, correct? Or, Ivan, would you also recommend that I make a quick pass through the book just writing short notes down so then I have triggers for important Mind Map branches/quotations?

---

Mind Mapping style is very personal, you must find the best for yourself. Creating a short mid map from a preview is good if it works for you. I, however do not write trigger words and I do not create a mind map after previewing. During the activation process I mark with a pencil information that I find NEW and RELEVANT to me. I do about 2 to 4 activations then I have my mind mapping about 2 times of 30 minutes each.

Especially with syntopic reading you need to activate before mind mapping. You need to keep your focus on your goal for syntopic reading even more and just getting information from one book. You'll be jumping from one book to the other when activating for syntopic reading they are worked though in concert not one after the other.

Alex