- thought to begin with Buzan (1974)
- use "…line thickness, colors, pictures, and diagrams to aid knowledge recollection"

Recommendations made by Buzan when creating mind maps

"1- Place an image or topic in the center using at least 3 colors

2- Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your Mind Map.

3- Select keywords and print using upper or lower case letters.

4- Each word/image is alone and sitting on its own line.

5- Connect the lines starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker,
organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the center.

6- Make the lines the same length as the word/image.

7- Use colors—your own code—throughout the Mind Map.

8- Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.

9- Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.

10- Keep the Mind Map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace your branches."

Mind-Mapping Techniques

- used in various disciplines: finance, economics, marketing, executive education, optometry, fine art and design, advertising and public relations
- "…free-form and unconstrained structure"
- unlimited ideas and links can be made 
- no need "…to retain an ideal structure or format"
- promotes creative thinking and brainstorming 

Advantages of Mind Mapping

- "…types of links being made are limited to simple associations"
- constrained by absence of clear links between ideas 
- difficult for others to read 
- only represent hierarchical relationships 
- inconsistent level of detail 
- "...often too complex and missing the 'big picture'" 
- "…limited in dealing with more complex relationships"
- unuseful "...for a purpose that requires an understanding of how one concept is essential to understanding another"

Disadvantages of Mind Mapping 

- also known as idea mapping, association maps
"…allows students to imagine and explore associations between concepts"
- "…has been defined as 'visual, non-linear representations of ideas and their relationships'"
- a network of connected and related concepts; any idea can be connected to another 
- free-form, spontaneous thinking is required 
- the aim: to find creative associations between ideas 

Syracuse University

- Concept mapping, mind mapping, and argument mapping are often used interchangeably 
- There are distinguishable differences between these three mapping tools, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each 

Differentiating between Concept, Mind, and Argument Mapping

Davies, M. (2011). Concept mapping, mind mapping and argument mapping: what are the differences and do they matter?. Higher education, 62(3), 279-301.

Concept mapping, mind mapping and argument mapping: what are the differences and do they matter?

Mind Mapping 

- "… allows students to understand the relationships between concepts and hence understand those concepts themselves and the domain to which they belong"
- often confused with mind mapping 
    - concept maps are more structured and typically do not incorporate pictures 
- aim: outline relationships between ideas 
- a relational device 
- widely used in academic disciplines such as accounting, finance, engineering, statistics, reading comprehension, biology, nursing, medicine, and veterinary science

Learn Before

Related

Learn After