Mapping Technique: Mind Maps
Suitable for Step 2
Duration
At least 30 minutes
Material Needed
Freehand or mind-mapping software or simple drawing tools in word processing software.
Group size
Individual or pairs
Objective
To help learners organize information and present it graphically.
Description of task
Ask learners to collect information about the topic (such as by using interviews and internet search) and identify the main idea or question (say by brainstorming).
Guide learners to prepare mind maps as follows:
- The mind map structure goes from the centre to the periphery.
- Write the main idea in the middle of the sheet or blackboard.
- Add sub-topics around the main topic, creating branches, each in a different colour, if possible.
- Add more layers of elements and sub-topics in a tree-like structure radiating out from the central idea.
The structure can help learners identify interrelationships.
Contribution to Systems Thinking competence
The mind map is an expression of “Radiant Thinking” – associative thought processes that come from or are connected to a central point. Several directions of thought can be seen at one go.
Example
