I thought for 1.5 years that mind mapping was never going to work for me, then i found Mindjet Mindmanager. Since i "lack" artistic(ok ok i havent really tired yet) ability and am a very sloppy writer, it would have been impossible for me to appreciate the mindmap on paper without this software. I never took notes before since i could easily memorize key concepts as they were spoken (assuming the lecture interested me), but after having found mindjet i started to use the lecture to build the structure of my mind map, listen as usual, then go home create my map, then read the assigned pages. Results have been drastic. In a class that i would get 80% for spending 30-40 mins studying for, i now get 97-99%. I create mindmaps of everything on my agenda, from meals, workouts, goals, math problems, to my thoughts and the events of a certain day!
My advice is for technical subjects (Math Major myself with 2 years of E.E courses) draw out your mind map with respect to the structure of the lecture, mimic the chronological progression of the lecture and later relate it to the structure of the textbook, then map out a typical problem with BOTH correct approaches and incorrect approaches to problems(color the incorrect ones deep red or something and the right ones a deep (insert favorite color here)) This has helped avoid common pitfalls, and gives you a true understanding of the problem (especially true of math and physics problems). Anyway, i also find it helpful to create the textbook mind map and refer to it during the lecture, and systematically fill it in. Hope this helped.
p.s.- just want to point out to anybody who "feels" that mind mapping wont really help them (as i once [very strongly] did).
Give the software a try! It takes all the work out and leaves the fun!
[This message has been edited by Serpentaura (edited March 07, 2003).]
