Most people find postviewing better. It stopped the conscious mind from interfering in getting that familiarity feeling.
There are a few out there. All rather expensive. There is an free version I think it's called Freemind. It doesn't had graphics as far as I know. I do think it is important to draw your own mind maps before you let the computer take over... the spatial, logical and verbal skills are added with the computer version (if you use graphics other wise its just a notepad). Drawing the yourself adds the kinesthetic link.
Dictionary, Just PhotoRead. Let the rest of the language learning course be activation. It's actually a reversal. You're using the dictionary as background leverage to learn the language and build your vocabulary in it. So use the dictionary as you would normally. Just experiment with PhotoReading it daily for a month and see how much easier it is to understand the language.
Letting the lectures be activation of books that you PhotoRead before class is an easy way to accelerate your learning. You just relate better to what the instructor is saying. It makes sense so you walk out of the class understanding what the instructor was talking about not just worrying how you will remember it for the test.
When you understand something it means you've made neural connections. Hooked it into your memory web so it's easier to recall what the lecturer was talking about. Memorising is like learning how a clock works well enough to answer questions in a written test but not have a clue how to actually build one. Understanding is to know how to build a clock and what it takes to make it tick.
Maths related problems require analytical thinking. This is final stages of PhotoReading. This mean you build in layers and add more until you get to the analytical level of understanding you need.
Analytical reading is typically about 90 word a minute (it can be slower) You usually need to read it three times (makes your reading speed about 30wpm, ouch right? that's about 10 minutes a page)
Using PhotoReading each activation is like reading it once. 25,000wpm (1 second), second pass Superreading and dipping 3000wpm (10-seconds), third pass skittering, 1200 (20-seconds) wpm Rhythmic perusal 600wpm (30-seconds) (you might be finished there) Total time on the page so far is 61 seconds. Let say you want to rapid read For most people that with PhotoReading skills this is a slow read at 300 wpm so add another 60 seconds. Certain details require more attention? read at 150 wpm (you're still reading faster it's like trying to slow down after having a free run on the freeway) So now the page takes another 2 minutes. Total time 5 minutes (1-second for the PhotoRead).
Not only have you halved the time you've covered that page 6 times.
The reason I presented it that way is to help you to see the advantage of building in layers rather than trying to get it the first time (which with analytical reading you cannot do anyway). 
Alex
