Excellence with G.O.P.T.A.© Series: Part 83 (Learn New Skills … )

By: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Sr. Associate Editor, ICN Group

(In the last article, we knew how to practice speed reading. Today, we will see that how to tap power of ‘Mind Map’.)  

LEARN NEW SKILLS

MIND MAPPING: 

NOIDA: Preparing ‘Mind Map’ is a powerful technique for recording notes. It uses words, images, colours, numbers, special patterns etc. using both sides of the brain i.e. left brain and right brain. It is believed that Mind Map was made popular in the late 1960s by Tony Buzan in his path breaking book ‘The Mind Map Book’, which I strongly recommend to read, if you want to tap the real potential of your brain. 

By now, we know only about one system of taking notes i.e. the traditional system of writing down, which you think needs to be revised time and again; or alternatively, we mark some relevant portions in the book for later revisions. But there are certain disadvantages of this linear notes taking. Lot of time & energy gets wasted in writing down long notes; it takes longer time to re-read the notes; when we read one portion of notes, other portions loose our sight; there are no connectors between the words and ideas; there is no separation by colours or other visual additions to use both sides of your brain while revising; often keywords miss your eyes etc. 

On the other hand, a Mind Map provides an overview of a topic. It is a technique which brings together all the factors responsible for recalling the learnt material. It allows you to keep a large amount of data in a very systematic manner.  The mind maps are attractive and easy to read & remember. Since childhood, you would have noticed that the mind is capable of remembering keywords and images more easily than long sentences. That’s why the mind maps are more useful as they use just the keywords or key images and provide connecting points between all the points, so that while revising you don’t lose sight of even smaller points and your mind makes full use of pictographical images. 

You start from the centre of a blank page writing the central idea, around which your mind map is going to be prepared and let your thoughts radiate in each direction out of this central topic. It should contain the central idea at the centre; then main sub-headings branching out from this central theme; then further subordinate points branching out from the first stage points; and so on. You can develop your own colour theme which can be used in all of your mind maps for the sake of ease in revision. You can also use different shapes and different sizes of fonts for different level points. Use can also use images wherever required for easy memorising. You can link the points with each other. You will focus on main points with better concentration. Better presentation will not increase your boredom. 

It is a well known fact that the main functional part of our brain is divided into two parts, left brain and right brain. Left brain is often associated with logical analysis and reasoning, linear thinking, analysis, logics etc, while right brain is associated with intuition, visual imagination, art, creative & artistic design, colours, pictures etc. Often people use mainly one side of the brain and over a period of time, lesser used side of the brain develops a tendency to remain dormant. Using mind maps will increase coordination between your left brain and right brain, which will be beneficial in long run. In all, you will be able to revise a big topic within 2 minutes, which would have taken at least 15 minutes in case of linear notes. You will notice that if you prepare mind map, you will save time at the time of taking notes as well as at the time of revising. 

There are various software programmes available on the internet for preparing mind maps. You can download anyone and start using them on your computer or mobile phone. If you make mind maps on your mobile phones, it will also benefit you in utilising your commutation time, as you will be able to revise full chapter in less than a minute.  

This will not only save time, it will benefit you on the memory front also and I believe that both the benefits are bigger than each other. 

(In the next article, I will discuss about some more useful skills to be inculcated by all, specially students and after that, we will turn to the hottest topic of this century – Time Management. I believe that you are enjoying the journey towards the future of your dreams with me. If yes, please stay tuned. Happy G.O.P.T.A.)

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Creator & copyright holder of the concept G.O.P.T.A.©  is an Author, Certified NLP Lifestyle Trainer, Strategic Interventionist, Corporate Trainer & Motivational Speaker ( http://bit.ly/Signature-Workshops-Sanjay-Kumar-Agarwal ) and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Excellence (Management) by prestigious Young Scientist University, California, USA. He is Founder of ‘Read, Learn & Earn Movement’ and is popularly known among his fans & followers across the globe as ‘Time and Goal Guru’.

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