Fundamentals

In this course you will learn

the definition and history of mind maps

how to draw and read mind maps
the benefits of mind mapping
why mind maps work so well
who mind mapping is for
the most important uses of mind mapping
how to choose the right mind mapping format for your situation
how to develop your own mind mapping system
how to link your mind maps

Definition and History

A mind map is a type of spider diagram or concept map that consists of acentralized
subject and related topics or ideas branching off from it in all directions. From each
topic subtopics can again branch off, resulting in a radiant structure.

Though visual representations of information have been used for thousands of years, the
term mind map wasnt around until the 1970s, when it was coined by the English
researcher Tony Buzan. Buzan developed the technique out of his own need for a way
to deal with the large amounts of information during his time at university. He looked
for new and more effective thinking, reading and memorizing techniques, studied
psychology and creative thinking, and looked at the notes of the greatest thinkers he
could find. Eventually, after first successes with his newly developed technique, he

started writing a series of books on the subject. The first edition of The Mind Map
Book appeared in 1995.

QUESTIONS
How is a mind map structured?

A mind map has a radiant structure, with topics arranged around a center

A mind map has a linear structure

A mind map has a four dimensional structure

A mind map grows from the bottom of a page towards the sky

Who coined the term mind map?

The term is hundreds of years old, nobody knows who coined it

The term was coined by lead researcher of the American Institute for Creative Thinking

The term was coined by the English researcher Tony Buzan

Thats not a real word

How to Draw and Read Mind Maps

Mind mapping is easy and intuitive, and although there are a lot of guidelines and tips
out there, all you really need to know to get started are a few basics:
1. You start off with a blank piece of paper, a clear board or an empty digital map
editor. In the center you write down whatever your mind map is about: the subject of
your brainstorming session, the title of your project, a keyword from that essay youre
trying to write...

Circling your subject will make it more prominent, and by adding an image to it you can
make it more memorable.
2. Now you can start adding topics, also known as nodes, keywords, ideas or
branches to your map.

If you want them to be read in a certain order, start at about one oclock and go
clockwise around the center - this is the direction mind maps are generally read.
Your first-level topics (the topics closest to the center) are basically main categories or
key ideas. Here are some examples:

Note that there are two distinct ways of adding topics: You can either write your topic
right onto the line that connects it with the center, or you can write your topic into a
new circle/bubble, which is then connected with the center through a line. If you want
to follow Tony Buzans guidelines, then the former version is for you. He also suggests
writing your first-level topics in colorful capital letters and drawing curvy lines, as your
brain supposedly gets more excited about these than straight lines. Buzan also advises
against circling your topics, since a circle can function as a kind of barrier, obstructing a
free flow of associations.
3. The next step is to add what we like to call child topics or child ideas to your firstlevel topics. Simply draw another line from your first-level topic and write your child
topic on the line or into a circle at the end of it. These child topics should be a little less
prominent than your first-level topics to convey a clear sense of hierarchy. Every new
topic can again have its own child topics. There is no limit to the number of child topics
or hierarchical levels in a mind map.
Note: All topics that are on the same level are called sibling topics or sibling ideas.

Topics:
Should you use single keywords, phrases or whole sentences?
Generally, you should use whatever works best for you and is the most appropriate for
the situation. If youre doing a brainstorming to get a flow of ideas going, single
keywords are a great way to spark associations and not waste any time jotting down
unnecessary words. Short phrases are a good way to go in most other cases, especially
when youre not the only one who is supposed to understand the mind map. If youre
using your map to present information to others, you could even consider using whole
sentences, though mind maps are generally not made for those kinds of long
explanations.

In MindMeister, you can simply add any longer explanations to the notes sections of
your topics. This way, the clear image of your map is preserved, but you can view the
additional information any time you want via mouseover.

How important are pictures, symbols and colors?

Again, it depends on what kind of map you are creating and what you are using it for.
Pictures, symbols and colors are all memory triggers. The more personal, special and
unique your map is, the more likely you are to remember it (and its contents), which is
why its not so important that your drawings are beautiful in the traditional sense, they
just have to be memorable. Besides that, pictures can carry a huge amount of
meaning and thus spark lots of associated ideas (remember the old saying, A picture
is worth a 1000 words). In the following map, weve used one simple picture as the
central image of our map and jotted down any associations it sparked in us. Take a look:

For the above mentioned reasons, including pictures can add a lot of value to your mind
map and you shouldnt dispense with them just because youre insecure about your
drawing skills.
Many mind mappers also like to use a different color for every main branch of their
mind map, which can result in a clearer distinction between the branches and thus in an
even better overview of the entire subject.

EXERCISE
Create your first mind map!
For this exercise, we will use the term Life as our subject. To get started, take a blank piece of
paper (preferably without lines) and put it in landscape mode in front of you. Alternatively,
you can
open a MindMeister mind map
to create your first map online. If you need help getting started, you can quickly fast forward
to Features.
1. Write the word Life in the center of your map.
2. Draw a thick line from the center towards the edge and note down the first idea or
topic. This could be something like Family, or Goals, or maybe Relationships.
Be sure not to make the line any longer than necessary - you will want to reserve
some space for child topics at the end!
3. Now you can choose: You can draw another line from the center to add a second
branch (=first-level topic), or you can expand your first branch by adding related
topics. If you want to expand Relationships, for example, you can add Partner,
Children, Friends and Colleagues. You can then expand upon each of those
topics even further.
4. You can add images or icons to your mind map to make it more memorable.
5. Keep adding new topics i.e. ideas until you run out of things to add.

When your map is finished, you can take a look at our sample mind map . Of course,
your mind map is bound to look very different, and thats completely fine! The goal
here is merely to inspire you and help you improve your own map!

QUESTIONS
When you create a new mind map on a piece of
paper, a blackboard or in a map editor, where do
you start?

In the center

In the upper left corner

At the bottom

It doesnt matter

What kind of hierarchical structure can be found

in a mind map?

There is no hierarchical structure in a mind map, all topics are equal

The key ideas or categories are the ones closest to the center

The key ideas or categories are the ones on the outskirts of the map

The hierarchical structure is completely up to me

The Benefits of Mind Mapping

Mind mapping helps you to focus.

The subject of your map is always in the center and thus right in front of your eyes. This
helps you to stay on topic.
Mind mapping lets you structure your thoughts.
No matter how complex an idea or how big a topic, a mind map brings order into the
chaos.
Mind mapping provides a great overview of a topic.
It enables you to see the bigger picture, make out connections and hierarchies.
Mind mapping enhances memory.
It kicks your brain into action and improves your study efforts through the use of mental
triggers.
Mind mapping is efficient.
It increases productivity and can help you save tremendous amounts of time.
Mind mapping is easy.
Everyone from preschooler to CEO can do it.
Mind mapping enables a free flow of ideas.
Because you mostly use single keywords, symbols and short phrases in mind maps, you
can jot down ideas a lot faster than usual, which results in an unobstructed flow of ideas.
Mind mapping is fun.
In opposite to linear notes and texts, creating a mind map doesnt actually feel like work.

QUESTIONS
What is NOT a benefit of mind mapping?

Mind mapping is efficient.

Mind mapping is fun.

Mind mapping helps you to run faster.

Mind mapping lets you structure your thoughts.

Why Mind Maps Work So Well

The graphical structure:

Mind maps display hierarchy and relationships between topics visually. Their twodimensional structure enables you to make out connections easily and never to lose

focus of the actual subject / goal / question, since it is located right in the middle of your
map.
The overview:

Mind maps allow you to view all the contents of a subject at a glance. That is because
mind maps, in opposite to linear texts, never stretch across multiple pages. A paper
mind map is always fitted onto one sheet of paper, a mind map drawn on a black board
is confined to the edges of the board, and a digital mind map is displayed on one single
worksheet. This means that you dont have to jump back and forth between multiple
pages but can retain a clear picture of the contents at all times.
The Spartan wording:

While linear notes encourage you to almost blindly gather content, that is, to copy as
much of the information you read or hear as possible, mind maps almost force you to
actively think about what you note down and what can be left out. They foster a
reduced, almost Spartan writing style, where every word counts. You dont clutter
your notes with unimportant information and save time while you write, read and study.
Colors and Icons:

Mind maps encourage you to make good use of colors and icons, both of which can help
you greatly in structuring your content. Color codes and icons can not only show you
even more detailed connections between and joint possession of topics, but also trigger
your memory and thus speed up the recall process.
The Pictures:

Pictures are a great way to add value to your mind maps and trigger your memory with
personalized drawings. Digital mind maps usually also allow you to support your
arguments with statistical diagrams, show screenshots, add photographs or any other
kind of image.

MindMeister allows you to add notes and files to your topics, which can be stored and
displayed inside the map. You can also link to articles, websites or other mind maps,
thus creating an interlinked map structure around a subject too big for one mind map.

QUESTIONS
Name a few reasons why mind maps work so
well!

Because they use pictures, colors and icons.

Because they offer a great overview.

Because they display hierarchy and relationships visually.

Because they directly relate to our innermost fears.

Who Mind Mapping Is for

Mind maps are so easy to draw that basically everyone can create them. Experience has
taught us that children from the age of 8 already benefit greatly from it and there is no
age limit on the other end. Some believe that even preschoolers can make use of this
tool by simply replacing all written parts with drawings.
But what if I am a linear thinker?

Some of us are so accustomed to processing information stored in a linear manner that

weve really become quite good at it. But that doesnt necessarily make us linear
thinkers, at least not in an exclusive manner. Even if you feel comfortable with your old
thinking method, you can utilize other techniques to further improve your creativity,
memory and problem solving abilities.
Who benefits from mind mapping?

Creative people
People involved in planning & strategizing
People involved in organization
Project managers
Teams and team leaders
Teachers
Students
Children with ASD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities
and many more!

QUESTIONS
Who is mind mapping for?

Mind mapping is only for children

Mind mapping is only for visual thinkers

Pretty much everyone can benefit from mind mapping

Nobody benefits from mind mapping

The Most Important Mind Mapping Uses

Mind mapping is an extremely versatile technique that can be used for a number of
different tasks, in different fields and for different purposes. The following is a list of
the most common and important areas of use.

Brainstorming:

Because mind mapping encourages a free flow of ideas and sparks associations like no
other technique, it is the perfect tool for brainstormings. No matter if youre looking for
ideas for your next blog post, are trying to think of the perfect title for your novel, or are
brainstorming the contents of an elaborate marketing promotion - mind mapping will set
your creativity free.

Summarizing:

A great use of mind maps is summarizing complex or long texts, such as essays,
textbooks and theses. You can take the notes while reading or right after youre finished
with a chapter. The mind map encourages you to break the information down into
smaller, more manageable chunks and capture the key concepts of the topic, which
makes it perfect for later revisions of the material.

Planning & Strategizing:

Mind maps can be used to plan anything from weddings and exhibitions to business
concepts and PR strategies. They are perfect to collect all your ideas, to-dos and even
resources in one place, to arrange things in a clear and logical way and function as a
perfect visual aid when presenting your plan to others.

Problem solving:

In our modern society, employers and teachers alike stress the importance of problem
solving abilities in their employees and students. It is not so much the comprehensive
knowledge of a subject that is on demand, but the ability to think logically, make the
right connections and find creative solutions to a problem. Mind maps offer the ideal
format to do just that.

Note taking:

Whether youre in a meeting or a lecture hall, taking notes in the form of a mind map is
not only more efficient while youre writing, you will also find it easier to quickly go
back to your map and refresh your memory later on. Instead of having to go through
page after page of monotonic text, of which 60 to 90%* is, on average, completely
omissible, you can see the truly important information in your mind map at a glance.

Memorizing:

Mind maps can help you memorize all kinds of information and data, from vocabulary
of a second language to complex physical concepts. In his book The Mind Map Book,
Tony Buzan explains why mind maps are so great for memorization: Mind maps
utilize all our cortical skills and activate the brain on all levels, making it more alert and
skillful at remembering. The attractiveness of mind maps makes the brain want to return
to them, and again encourages the probability of spontaneous recall.

Presentations:

During a speech, an oral report or a presentation, visual aids are key to help the
audience follow the speakers thought process and further explain complex topics. A
simple but very effective visual aid is a mind map, which can be projected onto a screen
as a whole or drawn from scratch during the speech to underline key points and
illustrate connections and concepts.

Collecting and structuring information:

Mind maps are probably most famous for their ability to structure thoughts and help
the mapper to focus on the subject at hand. But mind maps also offer a great format for
collecting and structuring any other kind of information, be it the contents of a scientific
article or your favorite dessert recipes. With solutions such as MindMeister, it is easy to
add links to websites, notes and even files to your maps, making them the perfect
resource compilations or knowledge banks.

Collaboration:

Mind maps are a great platform for team members to brainstorm together and get
productive discussions going. Everyone can easily add their own ideas, which in turn
can spark new ideas in others. The results of the collaboration process can then be
structured, tasks can be assigned and deadlines added.

Decision making:

In order to make an informed decision, you need to know the facts, understand the
connections, see advantages, disadvantages and possible consequences of your actions.
A mind map is the ideal platform to collect all those things in one place and provide you
with a clear overview of the pros and cons.

EXERCISE
Use a mind map to brainstorm!

Brainstorming is one of the most important uses of mind mapping, which is why your
second mind map should be one too. Here are a few different topics you can choose
from:

Our office: On the left side of your mind map, note down issues and things that could
use improvement (bad communication, no plants, never enough milk for coffee). On the
right side, note down anything you can think of that might improve your workplace (a
foosball table, more plants, regular team meetings).
What I do: Note down all your responsibilities as a professional.
My perfect life: What does a perfect life look like to you? Create a topic for living
where you note down where youd like to live, what type of house youd want, what your
garden would look like and so on. Create a topic for family, one for work (if that is
actually a part of your idea of a perfect life), one for free time and so on.

Underneath we have prepared sample mind maps for each topic. Take a look!

Our office
What I do
My perfect life

How to Choose the Right Mind Mapping Format

There are basically three different mind mapping formats. You can choose
between paper mapping, digital mapping and online mapping. While online mapping
is actually just a variant of digital mapping, it offers a number of features and

advantages that distinguish it from conventional digital mapping. That is why weve
decided to treat it as a distinct format in this case.
Of course, you dont actually have to settle for one format. Just because you choose to
work with a digital solution doesnt mean you cant also draw paper mind maps when
youre not in front of your computer. The system is always the same and once youve
come to appreciate its value, youll probably make use of it in all kinds of different
situations. However, finding the right format for you and your individual needs and
preferences is still important. Once youve found the right one, you can create a system
based on it and that again will ensure a smooth overall workflow, help you to save time
and increase your productivity.
Underneath weve prepared a mind map to give you a quick overview of the pros and
cons of each option:

QUESTIONS
What are the benefits of online mind mapping?

Multiple people can work on a map at the same time

Online mind mapping is suited for both humans and animals

Mind maps can easily be shared and published on the web

Mind maps can be accessed from different devices

How to Develop Your Own System

A mind mapping system is the way you use, add and apply colors, icons,
connections and such. Now, you wont need a cleverly devised mind mapping system
for the occasional brainstorming or to-do list, but when you work with mind maps on a
regular basis, and especially if you use them for work or studying purposes, such a
system can help you save tremendous amounts of time. Instead of reinventing the wheel
every time you create a new map, you can resort to a time-tested set of icons and color
codes that help you create and read your maps a lot faster and add meaning to them. So
lets get started:
Color codes

Judo belts, hospitals and traffic lights have one thing in common: They all use color
codes to quickly rely certain kinds of information to people. In a hospital, a Code
Blue is universally understood as cardiac arrest; a black belt in martial arts signifies
great competence of the practitioner; a red light in traffic means stop. And while there is
no one true color code thats applicable to every system, there are most certainly at
least a few colors that carry connotations for each one of us. The trick is to find and use
the ones that feel the most natural to you.

Dont forget that there are different parts of your map that can be color coded: the lines,
the connections, the keywords, the circles around the keywords, their backgrounds, and
so on. Here is an example for a color code that could be used in project planning:

Grey keywords

Idea not yet approved

Orange keywords

Need more information

Red background

Problematic

Blue border

Time related information

Icons

Just like colors, icons are able to carry meanings and messages that can reduce your
writing efforts greatly. Instead of adding notes to your topics that explain their status or
their affiliation to a certain group, you can just appoint icons for those meanings and
then use those icons in all your maps. After the first two or three maps you will know
them by heart and whenever you will see an icon in one of your maps, you will
recognize its meaning instantly. Here are a few examples of icons you could use in
project planning:

Thats a go-ahead

Done

Work in progress

Another advantage of using icons is the filter view: MindMeister lets you not only
search your maps for keywords, but also filter them for icons (among other things).
Imagine having a big project mapped out and looking for a way to quickly show all
unfinished tasks. All you have to do is filter for the icon you have assigned for this case
(a yellow flag, a red led or one of our task symbols) and MindMeister will highlight all
topics marked with the icon.

EXERCISE
Choose or create 5 icons for everyday use

You might have to create a few sample mind maps in order to find out which icons you
will need the most. Once you know what kind of icons you need, you can start to sketch
a few different versions of each one before settling for the most memorable
one. Example: If youre mind mapping mainly for studying purposes, you could need
icons like the following:

Important for the exam!

Definition

This should be memorized word for word

Additional information (not important for exam)

See textbook for detailed information ...

How to link your mind maps

As weve said before, one reason why mind maps work so well is because they are
limited to one single sheet of paper and thus give you a great overview of a topic. But
what happens if you run out of space?
Many people actually scare away from using mind maps because they dont know what
to do once their sheet of paper is full and they still have information to add. Should you
somehow expand the space by attaching additional sheets on all sides? Or do you keep
going on a new page? But then, what happens to your great overview?
A good way to solve this problem is by linking your maps: Instead of trying to
squeeze all the important information on one sheet of paper, use the hierarchical
structure of your map and only add the highest 3-4 topic levels to your map. This map
will function as your main map or index map. Create a new map on a new sheet
for every 4th level topic, turning this topic into the center. Now you can add all your 5,
6, 7, and 8 level topics around the center. With color codes or symbols you can easily
link the sub maps to their respective topics on the index map.

With MindMeister you can create actual, clickable links between your maps and easily
jump back and forth between them.

QUESTIONS
What should you do when your mind map is
getting too big and youre running out of space?

Theres nothing I can do

I should try to squeeze all information onto one page, even if its too small to read properly

I should create an index map and link it with as many sub maps as I need

I should just keep going on a new page

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