Take a look at your child’s homework books and what do you see? Nicely written neat paragraphs? Tidy lists of facts and figures? If so, your child’s teacher no doubt has much praise! Teachers like to see neat handwriting – after all, it makes their job a lot easier. But are neat hand-written notes really the be-all and end-all? Are there better ways of stimulating children’s memory and creativity than copying dull lists of words?

The problem with this common or garden note taking is that, in a word, it’s boring! Yes, there is the occasional diagram or graph, but mostly it’s a good old bland sea of sentences. The important key words are buried in fluff and wordy paragraphs with little to stimulate the imagination. In the classroom, when the teacher is trying to ensure that the children have all the information they need, linear note taking and simple copying down may, I suppose, have their place. But if that is the only way the children know, it is naturally what they are going to do when they come to revise those notes before an exam.

What they don’t realize (because nobody has told them yet – but you are about to!) is that getting the information into the brain in a form that will be useful in the exam is a whole new kettle of fish. A kettle of fish that can be cooked in a very different and much more fun way.

Why do mind maps work so well as a study tool? They engage you in whole brain thinking and allow you to see the big picture (how all the different ideas are to connected to one another). They also help to clarify thoughts, simplify complex ideas, memorise information and allow you to be creative so you will not get as bored as easily.

What we are looking for is a method of presenting information that capitalizes on how our brains work. Our brains process and remember information by linking. We tend to think that our thoughts are linear, similar to speech or written text. But, learning within the brain is done by linking ideas, questions, words and pictures in huge inter-connecting branches and webs. Your child can therefore study much more easily and effectively by using visual learning diagrams like webs, maps, trees and timelines to incorporate the key words and important facts that he needs to remember, rather than copying out paragraphs of text. This may sound trivial but it makes a very, very big difference to understanding, memory and recall. The best way for you to get a clear picture is to look at these examples of mind mapping below.

We focus on Pathway Mapping which is a powerful visual tool based on Mind Mapping® and study skills. Each Map and the accompanying instructions cover a series of topics which ensure a well rounded approach to a short term pathway plan or study plan. Each webinar engages many learning styles with Kinetic, visual and auditory features to ensure all kind of learners will gain maximum benefit. We can even tailor a program for your organization or for your individual needs. Contact us anytime.
You can also attend workshops and webinars (online seminars) to guide you through the process and enable interaction with a teacher and other participants.
You will also find a wide range of resources incuded such as software, recommended books and a huge array of useful websites many of which are free.