Idea Mapping

  Idea Mapping is a powerful whole-brained visual thinking tool that enhances memory, note taking skills, thought organization, planning, and communication.  It uses color, keywords, lines and pictures to connect thoughts associatively.  Idea Maps allow you to use your verbal and numerical intelligences, combined with the explosive power of your creative intelligence.  They are the natural expression of the way the brain operates.

   Idea Mapping is a simple and profound tool that helps individuals improve planning, creativity, thinking and learning, while simultaneously creating and producing incredible results.  An Idea Map is a colorful, single-page diagram that visually captures issues we face each day.  This technique gives people the increased ability to more competently plan, organize, communicate, remember, innovate, and learn -- and accomplish these faster than ever before!  By engaging both hemispheres of the brain, this approach frees us to think, see, and understand far more efficiently than when using a multi-page, linear document outlining the same information.  The associative process that Idea Mapping uses will clarify your thinking, is easy to learn, and mirrors how the brain naturally and freely connects information. 

Idea Map

An idea map is used to brainstorm ideas and develop thoughts. Idea maps start with the main idea or a problem in the middle of the screen. You record ideas associated with this topic in symbols that radiate from it. The symbols connect to the main idea with links. Subtopics or specific details are then added to those ideas.

Let the ideas flow and then step back and look at the main themes, patterns, or possible solutions. Idea maps can be used for individual or group brainstorming, planning, problem solving, or report writing.