Instructions on Using Mind Mapping for Studying

At any given point of time, the human mind faces several stimuli, both external and internal. Some of these demand immediate attention, others not so much. And so it comes to be that certain things are remembered clearly, while others are forgotten and cannot be recollected even after probing. The same factor applies when it comes to studying.

Our thoughts are so scattered and fragmented that it is bound to have an effect on our learning abilities. But then just as there are difficulties, there are bound to be solutions as well--in that direction, there are certain techniques which can be used for better learning and retaining.

While there are several that fall in this category, like repetition, loud reciting, using codes and mnemonics, the concept of using mind maps to study is a fairly new one that seems to have made a huge impact because of the success that it has brought on. Let us see what are mind maps and how does one use mind mapping for studying.

Mind maps work on the same concept as that of our mind and brain - by processing and storing information in a visual manner. It takes the basic idea of how our mind arranges thoughts, information and ideas to create a structure, which makes it easier to learn and recall.

Think of your school. From this basic word, several other associated concepts will emerge. You'll think of your classroom and the lessons from the texts. These factors are associated with the word 'school' and therefore the mind pulls out the images. That is how a mind map works.

It discards all those concepts and draws upon the basic concept that the mind uses. When the pressure of remembering is taken away and the ideas are allowed to arrange by themselves, they tend to flow freely without one having to pressure them to follow through.

That is why it becomes easier for a person to remember study material more clearly. In the following section we will try and understand how to use mind mapping for studying through these mind mapping tips.

You cram and cram for a test, confident that you're acing it. Then when you actually sit in the examination hall and one point in the answer slips your mind, you find that you're forgetting everything that followed.

That is what happens when you learn by rote, without understanding the basic concept at hand. When you concentrate on understanding the crux of the matter, you'll find that there is a better chance of remembering everything without beating yourself over it.

A mind map works in that way. It helps you understand basic concepts and thereby helps you learn and retain more information - which, as one can guess, is an ideal scenario when it comes to studying. So how exactly are we to draw a mind map for studying?

● Step 1: Use a plain paper that is essentially huge and bring in a collection of colored pens to draw with.

● Step 2: Take the chapter that you have to study and make a note of the central theme in the center of the page. For example - Irony.

● Step 3: Start drawing branches (each with a different color) of the different kinds of ironies like situational irony, verbal irony and so on, on all sides of the central idea of irony.

● Step 4: Under each type of irony, draw arrows to map out the basic pointers that make up this concept. Example - the definition, examples, characters and their traits.

● Step 5: Keep enough space handy to add in more information as you brainstorm and come up with more concepts.

● Step 6: Preferably draw pictures that center around each concept. Something that will help you associate the idea with the text. The brain tends to remember things better when they are presented in the visual form.

Though the people might adopt different techniques, they run on the same objective - that of planning and formulating a lesson plan to facilitate learning and retention with the objective of total recall. Bring this concept into action and you'll see that your ability to learn and understand has improved greatly.