Heard about a Concept map or a Mind Map?

What is a Mindmap?

Mindmap is a way to express what you have in your mind in a pictorial way. Express an idea, brainstorm a topic, organize information, create a hierarchy, show relationships. The most complex topics can be broken down in a simplified diagram. Its like building a starter kit for what you want to do, or what you are planning to do. You start your mindmap with a blank paper and build on what you have drawn before by joining the “thought” or “idea”.

Too abstract? Let us break what is in your mind? Assume that you do not know anything about how to approach a specific topic and you would like to know how to create a mind map.

Central Topic — Software Development

But wait, what should I do next and learn about what is software development? Let that be your right or left node to the central topic. Lets say you thought about these topics after reading or researching. Requirement, Analysis, Development, Production, Production Support. Lets create a quick Mindmap on what we have gathered so far.

Mmm, I missed to add of the topics above I think the Production support is a sub function of production so i need to add that node as a child instead. We can easily edit and move around the nodes

After a few weeks of reading on the “Software Development” you realize that the above diagram needs a lot of tweaks and the understanding has changed or needs modifications. How do I go about the changes? Keep shuffling things around, nodes have changed, node can be moved around. Here is what “Software development” mindmap looks now.

What are the tools that could be used for Mindmap?

I have been using FreeMind (a simple open source software that allows to play around) over the past several years. It was one of the free and open source tools that was available and I simply found it valuable. Freemind is very simple and intuitive. All of the above diagram snippets were created by FreeMind.

Other freeware/licensed tools that are available in the market (I am happy with FreeMind, hence not played around with the below ones)

• Coggle
• Fig jam
• Mindomo
• Gitmind
• Lucidpark
• Mind meister
• Free Hand

What is explained above is just the way on how to start. If you would like to channel your thoughts and idea(s), start the concept and build on top of the idea. Over the weeks/months you will be surprised to know how your idea took off. You could use mindmaps for education, planning, creativity, book notes, teaching, organization, problem solving, recipe making…

Would you like to share your experience on your first time on mindmaps?