DU’s Study Tip 6: THE EVER-CHANGING MIND MAP

We hope that learning these study techniques is inspiring you to organize yourself for effective study. Being equipped can make study exciting rather than a heavy burden.

TIP SIX: CONTINUALLY UPDATE A MIND MAP
As you go through your course, you will accrue a large amount of information. You need to chew it up and digest it. You’ll break down the subject into topics, sub-topics and sub-sub-sub-topics, and you’ll summarize each of these. The problem is that when you get down to the sub-sub-topics you are in danger of being swamped by detail or getting lost. When you’re lost, you need a map, and in this case you need a mind map. The mind map is a diagrammatic outline like a spiders web, with points (or images) connected by lines and radiating out from a central topic or point. The mind map will help you in many ways. It will help you:
(a) Organize and process all the information, classifying and arranging all the aspects of the subject like pieces in a jigsaw;
(b) Appreciate how each area and sub-area relates to others (including, perhaps, how the whole subject relates to other subjects);
(c) Ensure that you have covered everything;
(d) Reinforce everything in your mind spatially and visually (especially if you use coloured lines and images);
(e) Gain a strong direction in study, helping you decide what you need to study next; and
(f) Generally gain an overall understanding

Concept maps and idea maps are similar to mind maps, but have different focuses and may be of use depending on the subject being studied.

Wikipedia has excellent articles on each of these types of mapping:

Mind Mapping & Idea Mapping: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map
Concept Mapping: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_mapping

For most university subjects, you are advised to use a sheet size of A3 or above. As you go through the semester, keep revising and redrawing your mind map as you study and learn more. You will probably find that this map will end up your most valuable document in revision week because each item on the map will have the ability to trigger memories of an entire sub-area or sub-sub-area.

That’s it for today. The next three tips will cover that essential element of learning – memorization. All the best with those mind maps!

Cameron Russell

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Cameron Russell is a director of DUPublishers.com, a leading publisher of high-quality English
e-books. You can check out our latest English books at DU Publishers and our Online English College - for fast English results. Cameron is also the author of numerous English books and he teaches students English before they enter university. Copyright Daily-Update Pty Ltd 2008 All Rights Reserved