Some links about Mind Mapping

Here is a link to Tony Buzan’s official web site, the section about Mind Mapping. 
There are 7 Steps To Making a Mind Map. I post those 7 steps here, please read them carefully and follow them while creating your online mind map using www.mind42.com website. 

1. Start in the CENTRE of a blank page turned sideways. Why? Because starting in the centre gives your Brain freedom to spread out in all directions and to express itself more freely and naturally.
2. Use an IMAGE or PICTURE for your central idea. Why? Because an image is worth a thousand words and helps you use your Imagination. A central image is more interesting, keeps you focussed, helps you concentrate, and gives your Brain more of a buzz!
3. Use COLOURS throughout. Why? Because colours are as exciting to your Brain as are images. Colour adds extra vibrancy and life to your Mind Map, adds tremendous energy to your Creative Thinking, and is fun!
4. CONNECT your MAIN BRANCHES to the central image and connect your second- and third-level branches to the first and second levels, etc. Why? Because your Brain works by association. It likes to link two (or three, or four) things together. If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.
5. Make your branches CURVED rather than straight-lined. Why? Because having nothing but straight lines is boring to your Brain.
6. Use ONE KEY WORD PER LINE. Why Because single key words give your Mind Map more power and flexibility.
7. Use IMAGES throughout. Why Because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words. So if you have only 10 images in your Mind Map, it’s already the equal of 10,000 words of notes!

Here's an article from another sourse called The Power of Mindmapping in Language Learning. I like this article, I think it explains well what Mind Mapping is.

I also post a video of Tony Buzan talking at a TEDx event. It’s about 20 min long and accessible from You Tube. It's not obligatory to watch, but I think it might be interesting.  

Mind Maps and Tony Buzan

There is a very powerful technique of learning and remembering anything - ANY information you need. Sounds promising, right? It’s called Mind Mapping.

Mind Mapping is not a trick, it’s not magical, this method has a proven psychological basis. I will not explain it in this brief blog post, but you can find lots of widely available resources in books and articles on Psychology and Human Learning.

I think you have heard about Mind Maps before and I suppose some of you use them. Mind maps are greatly applicable for language learning, especially for increasing your vocabulary. Teachers and learners all over the world make mind maps on blackboards, on paper and online. It seems like mind mapping  is something that has existed forever, but that’s not true. Mind maps were invented by one person: Tony Buzan. He is still alive! He writes books and gives talks on different aspects of learning, memory and speed reading.

I advise you to read Tony Buzan’s books, if you’re interested in self-development.  I read his book called “Use Your Memory” for the first time when I was thirteen. At that time I couldn’t read books in English, but luckily we had this book at home, a Russian translation called “Супер-Память”. That’s when I introduced myself to some memorization techniques that have influenced my life.

Today Tony Buzan’s books are available in different forms. There are some people (especially in the Internet) who want to get rich by tricking other people and selling Tony Buzan’s ideas as their own. So, if you see some over-promising advertisements like “learn any language in a month using mind maps” or “speed reading in a week” do not believe them. Tony Buzan’s method for mind maps is self-study. You don’t need to have a guru to learn effective mind mapping.

What I like most about Mind Maps is their universal nature. You can do it on your own, if you like learning individually. You can do it with other people, if you prefer company. You can mind map any topic or idea. Mind mapping is very flexible, that’s why it is so popular!

So, why I write about Mind Maps here in this post? Because it’s our topic for this week. You’re going to create your own mind map online using a web site www.Mind42.com If you have time check it, if not we’ll work on it in the classroom. You will have to work in pairs. This is a 2-week assignment. So, it means that your mind maps should be ready the same day as your blogs: Monday Feb 17. You can choose any topic you like. I advise you to choose something that can be useful for your other classes, maybe for Country Studies or English lessons.