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I have mentioned in the Exam Review Technique article, that the creation of mind maps is an important part of integrating what you have reviewed in your long term memory. So…I have

outlined these steps for you to learn more about mind maps

How to Create Concept Maps or Mind Maps

(From John W. Pelley’s book “SuccessTypes in Medical Education”)

For easy reading, I have outlined the important parts in mind mapping creation from “SuccessTypes in Medical Education”. However, I still suggest that you read the book since it contains a much more detailed discussion plus examples.

Subdivisions:

**Main heading maps**Topic maps**Expansion maps

Purpose of Main Heading Concept Maps

@ An overview diagram @ It defines the overall territory@ It gives you an immediate visual feel for how material is subdivided without the

distraction of all the details@ You acquire a sense of control that cannot be obtained when you look at the detailed

expanse of the material.

Step 1: Main heading bubble.

@ Usually is a chapter title or a section heading in your lecture syllabus. @ Put the heading in a bubble at the center (or at the top) of the page (Figure 7.2). To

easily identify this page also keeps your notes neat and organized@ Write the main heading in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Figure 7-2: Construction of an overview map. Outline version is included for comparison.

Step 2: Topic bubbles

@ Begin the overview map by finding the major topics within that section or chapter. @ Most major headings will not have more than half a dozen main topics and sometimes

as few as two. Add these to the map in a symmetrical fashion.

Creation of Topic Concept Maps

@ Requires you to visually organize the material by selecting those terms and concepts that are important subtopics.

@ By discovering how to properly arrange & connect the topics, you are helping your brain to store the information on a long term basis.

Step 3: Topic bubble

@ Place each topic from the overview map in a bubble at the center (or at the top) of a new page.

@ In the upper right corner of each page, identify the main heading and, beneath that, the topic.

Step 4: Subtopic bubbles

@ Look in your notes or textbook for the terms and concepts that divide the topic into subtopics.

@ Examples of subtopics are:* Categories (each category is a subtopic, Figure 7.3),* Lists of components (each component is a subtopic, Figure 7.4),* Steps in a process (each step is a subtopic, Figure 7.5),* Characteristics (each characteristic is a subtopic, Figure 7.6), and* Cause and effect (each cause and effect is a subtopic, Figure 7.7).

Figure 7- 3: Concept map of Topic A which has four categories. Outline version is included for comparison.

Figure 7- 4: Concept map of Topic A which has five components.

Figure 7-5: Concept map of Topic A which has four steps. A) circular form that is used to represent a cycle; B) linear form that is used to represent a process.

Figure 7-6: Concept map of Topic A which has three characteristics.

Figure 7-7: Concept map of Topic A. A) Topic A is the cause of two different effects; B) Two causes that are related to Topic A that lead to the same effect.

Step 5: Details

@ Taking each subtopic in turn, look for important facts, definitions, descriptions, other important details and attach those in separate bubbles

@ Draw any extra connections that will help you to remember similarities and differences between subtopics and their components.

The sample overview diagram in Figure 7.8 shows that Subtopic 1 and Subtopic 2 have Characteristic C in common. Chapter 9 discusses the use of similarities and differences in greater depth.

Creation of Expansion Diagrams

@ You can expand beyond the space available on the topic diagram when it becomes too crowded to visualize effectively.

@ You simply create a new page for the subtopic which needs additional branching and follow similar steps to those above.

Figure 7-8: Addition of additional details (subtopics and characteristics of each subtopic) to Topic A.

Step 6: Expansion subtopic bubble

@ On the topic diagram, find the subtopic you want to expand and attach a bubble to that subtopic, including the word "expanded" (Figure 7.9).

Step 7: Expansion details

@ Start a new page with the subtopic at the center of the page. Search for the words or phrases to include or, better yet, paraphrase into your own words or phrases and attach them in bubbles.

@ You can use the same kind of criteria as above, such as characteristics, definitions, and components. Add the expansion subtopic to the page heading in the upper right hand corner.

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