-: Now that we've talked about note-taking, 2 2
let's talk about a very sophisticated and powerful way 3 3
of taking notes that most people fail to use. 4 4
It's called mind mapping, and it was invented 5 5
by one of the most prominent names 6 6
in accelerated learning and memory, Tony Buzan. 7 7
Mind mapping is basically drawing out 8 8
this neural network of new ideas, concepts, and details 9 9
in a visual and logical fashion. 10 10
In the homework, you'll find an article about it 11 11
with some visual mind maps you can check out yourself, 12 12
as well as links to some courses 13 13
that teach mind mapping in a lot of detail. 14 14
But, let's try to understand what it is 15 15
and why it's so powerful. 16 16
What's great about mind mapping 17 17
is that it allows us to draw out and visualise 18 18
neural connexions in the physical realm. 19 19
And since we already have a built-in system 20 20
where we're encoding details to get back 21 21
to the main concept, it's actually very easy 22 22
for us to translate that into mind maps. 23 23
Mind maps have a lot of benefits over traditional notes. 24 24
Not just because they're visual, 25 25
and allow us to sketch our markers if we want to, 26 26
but also because they actually show 27 27
the logical interrelation 28 28
between different thoughts and ideas. 29 29
On top of all of this, they're really fast, 30 30
and they're much easier to read and review 31 31
than a boring outline structure. 32 32
Just imagine that, 33 33
instead of jotting out notes for a book you read, 34 34
you instead turn the entire book into one big mind map, 35 35
noting out the major concepts, 36 36
or breaking out branches by chapters, 37 37
or any other structure you can imagine 38 38
for translating the information into a visual layout. 39 39
It doesn't even have to be a visual layout actually, 40 40
because the technique of mind mapping 41 41
even applies to imaginary mind maps that you draw up 42 42
in your mind without ever having to rely on paper. 43 43
Mind maps are a very personal thing, though, 44 44
and to get the most out of them 45 45
you're going to have to play with them and see 46 46
what the best way for you to create and use them might be. 47 47
To get you started, though, we'll explain 48 48
the adapted mind mapping technique 49 49
developed by Dr. Lev for the super learning methodology 50 50
over his years of use and refinement. 51 51
Though it's perhaps just a bit advanced for many students, 52 52
Dr. Lev actually imagines a mind map as he creates 53 53
chunks and reviews his markers. 54 54
It's a powerful way of creating compound markers 55 55
and preserving the logical flow of the text. 56 56
First, let's address the issue of complexity. 57 57
Some of you may have experienced fancy 58 58
mind mapping applications with beautiful designs 59 59
and tonnes of visual illustrations. 60 60
You do not have to do any of that in your head, 61 61
don't worry about it. 62 62
You need to keep only the following basics in mind. 63 63
First, the anchor. 64 64
The root node, or anchor, is the place 65 65
from where you access your whole mind map. 66 66
Whatever imagery you use for the anchor, 67 67
make it stand out, and make sure it's unforgettable. 68 68
The anchor is like a personal title you give to an article. 69 69
You should invest a disproportionate amount of time on it, 70 70
because it's very, very important. 71 71
The anchor should summarise the essence 72 72
of what you need to remember. 73 73
You can think of it like the trunk of a tree. 74 74
Next are the retrieval markers. 75 75
The anchor is connected to the retrieval markers, 76 76
which are like landing pages for various lines of thought. 77 77
These markers are created after reading the article, 78 78
and are used as triggers to remember the root node 79 79
from as many perspectives as the article supports. 80 80
Invest a tonne of time into these retrieval markers, 81 81
or you may forget the whole mind map 82 82
in a way that only spaced repetition can cure. 83 83
Think of retrieval markers as the roots of your tree. 84 84
Next are the main branches. 85 85
The main branches are allocated for core ideas 86 86
springing from the trunk. 87 87
Typically, you have three to six main branches per mind map, 88 88
which correspond to the sections within an article. 89 89
The main ideas should come with viable markers. 90 90
Invest a moderate amount of time here. 91 91
Finally, we have the smaller branches. 92 92
The smaller branches are allocated 93 93
to supporting ideas, controversies, and facts. 94 94
These are the bulk of your markers, 95 95
and you should have approximately two per paragraph, 96 96
subject to the density of the text. 97 97
Don't invest too, too much time here, 98 98
after all you are speed-reading, 99 99
and don't forget that each branch 100 100
should have a visual representation. 101 101
Either an icon, or a 3D object, or something like that 102 102
based on the methodology you're using. 103 103
Ultimately, we also have the leaves. 104 104
The leaves are the details and the facts, 105 105
the numbers, and the specific information 106 106
that can only be represented by little, tiny leaves. 107 107
Leaves are typically encoded back 108 108
as details of the branch that supports them. 109 109
For example, the colour of the marker, 110 110
its texture, its shape, or its design. 111 111
However, if these details are complex, 112 112
such as names or dates or formulas, 113 113
they are encoded into separate, yet smaller, branches. 114 114
All the leaves are typically encoded 115 115
immediately after reading a paragraph. 116 116
By the way, we also have strings. 117 117
Most of us should not only retain what we read, 118 118
but also generate new thoughts about it. 119 119
While most of the articles we encounter 120 120
are built like a tree, 121 121
the way our stream of thought functions 122 122
is more like a spider weaving a web between trees 123 123
to catch elusive bugs of new creative ideas. 124 124
For this reason, we often connect the small branches 125 125
and the leaves of various trees 126 126
with a translucent web of strings 127 127
that Dr. Lev calls hyperlinks. 128 128
Hyperlinking is his own addition, 129 129
so you won't find any hyperlinks 130 130
in the original mind mapping theory, 131 131
but in all truth, you cannot operate mind maps 132 132
effectively without connecting 133 133
different aspects of the tree. 134 134
In software, we use pointers and references 135 135
with a similar effect. 136 136
So, when do we use mind mapping? 137 137
Well, mind mapping is not very useful for memory sports. 138 138
You can't effectively encode decks of cards 139 139
or sequences of numbers into a mind map. 140 140
However, almost any computer programme, 141 141
textbook, article, or presentation 142 142
can be effectively encoded as a mind map. 143 143
Whether you draw it out or visualise it in your mind, 144 144
mind mapping can be a powerful tool 145 145
wherever a logical structure is presented. 146 146
How do you shape and design your mind maps? 147 147
Dr. Lev is so used to working with data structures, 148 148
that mind mapping over unique data structure 149 149
comes naturally for him. 150 150
The form of mind mapping Anna uses with students, though, 151 151
is the more classic kind of mind map. 152 152
She asks you to imagine the face of an analogue clock 153 153
with numbers one to 12. 154 154
Now, the trunk, or the bigger branch, 155 155
always connects where the clock strikes 12. 156 156
You still have 11 hours to position 157 157
additional markers or branches. 158 158
Since each marker is a visual entity, 159 159
you visualise the clock with the marker 160 160
near the relevant number, like an icon. 161 161
It's recommended to put markers on the odd hours, 162 162
one, three, five, et cetera. 163 163
Then, use the even hours as a reserve 164 164
for the markers we need to add later on, 165 165
like, the results of your analysis, 166 166
the details you missed during the first read, and so forth. 167 167
The clock face allows you to remember 168 168
the exact order of markers, which are drawn clockwise, 169 169
as well as the relationship between 170 170
those markers and other details. 171 171
So, you might be wondering, 172 172
can mind mapping be used with other forms of memorization? 173 173
Absolutely, in fact, it makes sense to make a hybrid 174 174
between mind maps and other forms 175 175
of visualisation or memorization. 176 176
Visualisation, linking memories, 177 177
and really just about everything we've learned so far 178 178
about memory all ties in to the concept of mind mapping, 179 179
and that's why it's so popular. 180 180
By the way, on one last note, if you're like me, 181 181
the physical aspect of mind maps is very unappealing to you. 182 182
And you might also live in a post-paper world. 183 183
At the same time, you may want to immortalise 184 184
or share your mind maps in a way that 185 185
imagining them mentally just doesn't allow. 186 186
Not to fear, there's actually a lot of really great 187 187
software out there for mobile devices 188 188
and even desktop computers that help you 189 189
make really beautiful mind maps, 190 190
and we've included links to some of them 191 191
in the PDF syllabus.