Mind Maps for Driving Instructors. ADINJC Conference 2012

PowerPoint Presentation

Mind MappingforDriving Instructors

Presented by Mac McDade MAIRSO, MIMTDDirector Ideas4ADIs Ltd

I first heard about Mind Maps in 2004, when my brother, a teacher in Scotland, showed me his notes from a CPD course hed been on.

I started to use Mind Maps now and again, drawing them out by hand, for different things I was working on, but it was only when the apps came out I realised how much more you can do with them.

For those of you who have never heard of or used Mind Maps, this is a little introduction to them. For those who already know and use them, perhaps I can help stimulate some more ideas on how you can make use of Mind Maps in your work.1

2Mind MappingWhat are Mind Maps?

Why do Mind Maps work?

How to make a Mind Map

How to use Mind Maps

How to get started

So, in this presentation I will cover

What Mind Maps are

Why Mind Maps work

How to make a Mind Map?

How to use them as an ADI

and, How to get started

So, lets get started2

3What are Mind Maps?Diagrams that visually present Radiant Thinking, a natural function of the mind

Also known as spider diagrams & mind webs

Developed centuries ago

Now used by engineers, psychologists, educators and many others

The term Mind Map was first usedand popularised by Tony Buzan

So, what are Mind Maps?

They are a visual presentation of Radiant Thinking.

Radiant thinking works by acknowledging the fact that no ones mind works without connecting associations together. It is not natural for the mind to work in any other way. If you just think for a second about the common problem of loosing your keys usually, you will try to retrace your steps connecting associations radiant thinking.

Also known as Spider diagrams or mind webs Mind Mapping has been around for some time.

Aside from cave paintings the earliest examples of this type of graphic records were developed as far back as the 3rd Century. A philosopher named Porphyry of Tyros, is thought to be the first to use mind mapping to form his ideas and thus making learning easier for the others.Historians have also found that Leonardo Da Vinci used mind mapping, mostly for note taking. He is sometimes considered as the historical person who popularized mind mapping the most.

Mind mapping is now used by many people in different fields

But it was not until the late 1960s that a British psychologist, Tony Buzan first used the term Mind Map and made its use very popular. He even created a set of rules to be used when mind mapping I will come on to these shortly.

Why do Mind Maps work? 3

Left-Brain Functions

Analytic thought

Logic

Language & writing

Science & math

Lists

Past and presentRight-Brain Functions

Holistic thought

Intuition

Creativity & imagination

Art & Music

Dimension4Why do Mind Maps work?

Research on the brain has demonstrated that the two different sides of the brain, the hemispheres, are responsible for different modes of thinking.

When we use the left side of our brain, which is very limited in terms of creative thinking, it is more analytical and thinks in a linear fashion - one idea at a time. Functions like Logic, Language & Writing, Science, Math & Lists are all left brain.

The right side of our brain is the creative, visual side, geared more toward holistic, intuitive and imaginative thinking and so gives us the flair for creating visually stimulating mind maps.

So, when we Mind Map, we are using both sides of the brain. As opposed to just writing, you open up the creative, visual and imaginative functions that would otherwise be closed off.

Mind Mapping has been called A Swiss Army Knife for the brain

meaning you are opening up and making use of all the available functions.

Now, let us look at how we create a Mind Map.4

How to make a Mind Map5

It was Tony Buzan who devised what he called the Laws of Mind Mapping, a set of rules that will allow you to get the best out of creating a Mind Map.

These are by no means rigid and should be applied where sensible and appropriate.

What better way to look at how to create a Mind Map than with a Mind Map

It was Tony Buzan who devised what he called the Laws of Mind Mapping A set of rules that will allow you to get the best out of creating a Mind Map.

These are by no means rigid and should be applied where sensible and appropriate.

What better way to look at how to create a Mind Map than with a Mind Map

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Start with your canvas or page

This should be blankBlank paper allows freedom to express your cortical skills, whereas pre-drawn lines restrict the natural flow of your thoughts.

Page orientation should be LandscapeThis ensures you have more space in the direction we write.

Your Starting Point should be..

In the centre of the pageThis reflects the way the brain works all our thoughts emanate from here.Use a colour image that depicts the subject of your Mind Map and give it a title.

What should we use in our creation process?

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A picture is worth a thousand words, so images work well in Mind Maps.It opens up associations, focuses the thoughts and results in better recall.

Colours stimulate the right brain activity of imagination as well as capturing and holding attention.

Words should be printed clearly. Some like to use all CAPITALs or Upper Casebut I like to use CAPITALs or BOLD to highlight emphasis and so use Lower Case also.

Try and stick to SINGLE words its not always possible, but do try.

However, they should be KEY words. This allows for easier recall and association.

Now, the lines or branches as we call them

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The branches make the connection between your ideas and thoughts.

The lines should be thick at the centre and get thinner as they branch out

The length of a line should be governed by the length of the word or image that sits on it

Your lines should be flowing and organic, like the neurons of the brain or the branches of a tree.

Your Mind Map should also have a bit of STYLE8

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A Mind Map should be fun ideas flow better when you are having fun, because your mind is more open.Mind Mapping is a great thing to teach kids.They get to use all the colours and draw pictures and use their imagination.

Use EMPHASIS where you feel necessary. You can use highlighters, arrows, bold text, framing and any other ways you can think of.

Give your Mind Maps a personal twist. Inject your own humour, imagination and beliefs.

Beauty. A Mind Map is a work of art. Artistic, colourful and imaginative. Your eye and therefore brain should be attracted to it

All of this is great for creating eye-catching, informative, colourful and imaginative Mind Maps, but it could just be a mess without structure 9

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Structure is very important

It keeps everything clearEasy to follow branches, not too cluttered or too tightly grouped

You must maintain your associations throughout, otherwise your branches loose meaning

You should always continue the radiant thought process. Dont be hesitant about going back and starting a new branch

Finally, Hierarchical starting in the centre with the most relevant key words and then branching out refining your thoughts and ideas as you go.

You can also use branch links to connect associations on different branches

Ive have gone through this very quicklyperhaps if we look at the process in action and HOW TO USE Mind Maps it will become a little easier 10

11How to use Mind MapsRoutinesAttitudesKNOWLEDGELESSON PLANSROUTESANYTHING

Mind Maps can be used to

Impart, share and extract knowledge and UnderstandingTo Assess AttitudesTo define and map out RoutinesTo formulate Lesson PlansTo plan Routes including your own Personal Development

Lets look at something we are all familiar with and see how we can use Mind Mapping11

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I want you to imagine you are in the car with a student. You have a blank sheet of paper on your lap and you are using Q&ASo we have our start point Car image and title MSPSL

Mirrors Why, When, Which and What

WHY? To check it is SAFE? - Safe to do what?Safe to CHANGE - either DIRECTION or SPEED

WHEN? 12

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WHEN UC a HAZARD

B4 CHANGING DIRECTION

B4 CHANGING SPEED

FREQUENTLY How frequent is that? As FREQUENT as CONDITIONS REQUIRE

WHICH? Centre 1st & Exterior

Centre has FLAT GLASS which gives you a TRUE IMAGE

The EXTERIOR mirrors however are CONVEX13

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Convex mirrors whilst offering a WIDER VIEW or zone of visionAlso give a DISTORTED IMAGE

WHAT do we use the mirrors for? To UPDATE ourselves on the POSITION SPEED and INTENTION of other road users

So, there you have a quick overview of MIRRORS in a Mind Map.14

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So, taking a quick look at the routine in FULL15

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MIRRORS

SIGNAL

POSITION

SPEED&LOOK16

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Now you are all geared up to get Mapping

Let me quickly tell you how to get started.17

18How to get startedYou dont need expensive software

Free versions for PCs & tablets

Practice makes perfect

http://www.mindmappingstrategies.com

http://www.mindmappingsite.com

http://www.thinkbuzan.com/uk/

http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/

First of all you dont need expensive software or hardware to get mind mapping

You can use paper, coloured pencils or pens

If you do want to use your PC, Mac or tablet then there are FREE programs and apps available

It took me a while before I started creating Mind Maps I was happy with.

Keep at it, practice makes perfect or at least better

Here are a few selected websites that have a plethora of useful tips, advice and samples

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Mac McDade

Ideas4ADIs

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19Questions?

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