Mind mapping
Are you a visual person who likes to see how different concepts connect to each other? Mind mapping can be a great way for you to visualise the different parts of problems and work through them.
Mind maps can be used for everything from organising study notes and essay content to planning holidays and events, and they’re an engaging way to present information to others in your classes or at work.
But how can mind maps help you solve problems? When faced with a problem, many of us feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to begin solving it. Creating a mind map can help organise your thoughts and separate the parts of a problem, so you can analyse and understand them better. Creating a mind map to solve a problem is also a low-risk way to brainstorm potential solutions and spark your creativity.
How to do it
Mind mapping can be done with a pen and paper or digitally; there are many apps that can be used for free. You can approach map creation in a variety of ways, but here is one technique to help you get started.
Scenario: Imagine that you are studying a Bachelor of Psychology and you have been asked to write an essay exploring the benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The problem is, you have a lot of ideas, and you’re not sure how to start your essay. You’ve decided to create a mind map to organise your ideas and plan out your essay. Check out the example below to see how this could be done:
What if you’re dealing with a real-life problem and not an essay topic? Like a debt you want to pay off, or a communication breakdown between colleagues? Mind mapping can help you here too. Start with the problem in the centre. Your branching topics will depend on the problem you’re dealing with and which stage of the process you’re at, but they could include things like: causes, tests, possible solutions, action plan, and goals.
Here is an example:
Cara doesn’t like public speaking. In fact, it makes her feel very anxious — but it’s a significant part of the career she wants to pursue. She knows she needs to reflect on the problem and analyse its causes, but thinking about it without a structure is stressful. She decides to make a mind map to help her visualise the problem, its causes, and possible solutions.
Cara’s template for her mind map has the problem she wants to solve in the centre, and arrows pointing to the topics she’ll add notes to. Analysing the causes, triggers, and reactions will help her understand the problem, while recording strategies, support systems, and previous successes will help her generate possible solutions, goals, and an action plan.
Reflect
- What kinds of branching categories do you think could go on a mind map focusing on solving a personal financial problem or a communication breakdown between colleagues?
- Have you ever created a mind map with another person or a group? Why do you think mind mapping is often considered an effective method for collaborative problem solving?
- Creating a mind map and using it to organise your thoughts is a highly transferable skill — you can use it for planning essays, personal concerns, and to break down complicated work issues. How might you be able to use mind mapping as a strategy in your future career?
For more tips, check out the Learning Lab’s Mind Mapping page and Mind mapping an artist statement.
This page includes content adapted from Assignment Types: Mind Maps by Kent State University licensed under CC BY 4.0
