You have a speaking presentation to make.  You have been given a topic or have chosen one and there are a multitude of ideas buzzing around in your head. Or maybe there is a frightening LACK of ideas! Or maybe you can think of no way to organise those thoughts into something memorable.  A mind map will help you.

WHAT ARE MIND MAPS??  

Mind maps are a way of collecting and organising ideas and information, in a visual way, and were created in the 1960’s by Tony Buzan.

A mind map will

·        Give you an overview of your subject

·        Enable you to plan routes/make choice

·        Help you to gather data

·        Encourage you to create new pathways

·        Enable you to be extremely efficient

·        Be enjoyable to look at, read, muse over and remember

·        Attract and hold your eye/brain

·        Let you see the whole picture and the details at the same time

·        Assist YOU!

Mind Maps work so well because they integrate the rational, logical, linear left-brain with the playful, special, non-verbal and big picture right brain.  So they have a much greater advantage than simple left-brain methods such as taking notes on lined paper and a single colour pen. 

HOW TO MIND MAP

1. Turn an A4 or A3 white sheet of paper on its side (landscape).  You can also use flip-chart paper, whiteboards and computers. 
2. Gather a selection of coloured pens, ranging from fine nib to medium and highlighters
3. Start in the centre with an unframed image
4. Make this central image stand out.  You might use dimension, expression and at least three colours to attract attention and aid memory.
5. Draw “branches” out to “chapter headings”.  They can be straight or they can be wavy to make them more organic.  You can make these thicker because they are central. 
6. Branch off thinner lines to hold supporting data. 
7. Use images wherever possible, or use a variety of size and abbreviation for words.  Use codes, symbols and dimensions that have meaning for you
8. Select keywords and print using upper or lower case letters
9. Each word/image should be alone and in its own space.  You can put them on the lines or make an area for each
10. Use colours in your own special code to show people, topics, themes or dates and to make the Mind Map more beautiful.
11. Show associations and create possible order for the presentation
12. Flood the page
13. Capture all ideas then edit, re-organise, make more beautiful, elaborate or clarify as a second stage of thinking. 
14. Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.  Keep practising until the process becomes natural.

Now it simply remains for you to find the words to express the ideas you have found and created, the bridges between them, and an opening and closing that package them well and make them memorable.

Enjoy this wonderful tool!

Bibliography:

q       Buzan Centres – Mind Mapping.  www.iMindMap.com

q       “Creating training miracles:  the power of accelerative learning”