So excited for this Mind Map Student!

A joyous plunge into visual Note Making!

I kind of love this championship offering! It's exuberant, colourful and fun … it's just not quite a high scoring Mind Map according to the Paris marking Scheme. 

It's what we refer to as an “almost Mind Map” and I love to see them - here is why! 

The "Almost Mind Map"

They demonstrate that the creator understands that the very best learning tool is a visual one and they are working towards refining the skill with energy and passion. Instead of doubling down on variations on linear notes, they have plunged into visual learning tools with enthusiasm .. and a whole heap of coloured pens! 

It kind of gives me prickles of excitement as I see a new student experimenting with the technique and finding their way because I know they are so close to truly integrating the technique and then mastering it and taking off to learn and create so many wonderful things. 

It's the Mind Map equivalent of me envying people who have yet to read my favourite books and feeling so jealous at the wonderful experience they have ahead of them. 

So let's help this competitor score even higher next year! 

Central Image?

The first minor issue is the positioning of the “Central Image” - yeah! It should be slightly more central shouldn’t it? Smack dab in the middle of the page and about the size of your fist .. so this one is a little too large and a little too low. 

Setting the Central Image in the centre allows you to surround the image with main branches and ensure that you have enough space for all the content that you choose to incorporate. 

The Main Branches should connect to the Central Image and should follow the “fat towards the centre - thinner towards the periphery” model of the Rules of Mind Mapping - again allowing space for plenty of content. 

Sticking to the Rules

What is great is the choice of keywords on this Mind Map .. and a great habit that I hope that the competitor will keep. The words and the branches are the same size .. so important not only for managing the space on the paper but in boosting recall when you come back to review the Mind Map at a later date. 

You will be surprised how many otherwise excellent Mind Mappers often slip up when it comes to this “branches and words the same size” rule. Keep it up - this will make such a difference to your Mind Maps in future. 

There are also plenty of images scattered throughout the content on this Mind Map - perhaps next year you could create them in full colour for even more impact. 

Time to "Graduate"

I think this competitor is demonstrating that they are ready to use even finer pens than the ones they have used to create this Mind Map - knowing that clarity and content can both be improved when the tools allow you to create finer branches and smaller, neater writing. I always regard this as the “training wheels stage” where the basic understanding of Mind Mapping is there but they are ready to demonstrate their knowledge and intelligence to even greater depths. 

But overall - I love the fun in this Mind Map, it really does live up to the theme of “Celebration”

Wow – what an energetic and vibrant celebration. This competitor is a free spirit and that is to be applauded. There is a danger though, that you can get carried away and end up with a nice piece of modern art that is not quite a Mind Map.

Unfortunately, the exuberance of the image means it’s not central and prevents connection to it.

Basic Ordering Idea Branches

You’d think it makes sense to replace main branches with images to boost creativity but this actually presents a problem. The point of organic tapering main branches is to draw the eye outwards from the centre. If you replace these with images the flow is blocked. I think some trainers (and sadly software developers too) have misunderstood this fact. Rather than using the pencil, funnel, Pride flag and USA/French flags in a circle, in place of organic main branches – draw the branches then add the images on them. You maintain the vibrancy and creativity of the images but also keep a good structure.

Simply being a little more restrained with the central image, actually centralising it and having properly structured main branches will give the Mind Map a solid start. There’ll be a bit more space to develop the branches so they won’t be colliding with the edge of the paper as they seem to be. 

It looks like the content is well thought out so with a bit more structure this could be very successful. It will be good to see progress in 2022.