Most people give up mind mapping after trying it only once.
Note taking and outlining are nice but put you into the same boat that you were in when you were reading in the first place. You have to read it again word for word.
Mind mapping is great for review. If you see something on your mind map that you cannot remember why you wrote it there the alarm bells should go off. You need to review that section because you've forgotten it. It takes 3 minutes to review a mind map and 20 to 30 minutes to review notes. It's much better to get the coloured markers out and use more of your mind to create a mind map because it creates more triggers for recall, the colour position on the paper. The links and associations are clearer. You have to think and put it into your own words that makes the memory stronger and creates additional neural pathways. If you just take notes often you're just copying words that are already written in the book. may as well just highlight them. Mind maps also are useful for finding the right pages again in an open book exam but as a PhotoReader... you may have noticed that finding the right page with the answer isn't that difficult.
Alex
