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Brainstorming with Mind Maps

 

 

BRAINSTORMING WITH MIND MAPS

 

 
1.  Gather supplies

  • Pens and colored pencils
  • Crayons and Markers
  • Large blank piece of unlined paper
  • Music player (optional)

 

 

2.  Find a Quiet Relaxing Location
Find a quiet relaxing place which will allow you to free your mind to help eliminate distractions.  Consider:

  • A park
  • A porch or patio
  • A back room

 


3.  Play Music to help free your mind

Soft relaxing music can help get the creative juices flowing.

4.  Place the central idea in the middle of the paper

Print the topic you want to brainstorm about in the middle of the paper and draw a circle around it.  Consider drawing an image or symbol that relates to the topic.  These form the center of your mind map.

 

 


5.  Begin Building Branches

Once you have the central idea, build branches off of the circle with related topics or ideas.  Draw a line from the central idea to the sub-idea to illustrate a connection between the ideas.  Use colors as you build the various links.

 

 

6.  Create More Branches, Sub-Branches, and Sub-Sub Branches
After you have the center circle and the first level of branches, create sub branches, and sub-sub-branches from there.  Illustrate how the ideas and branches are connected to one another.

Try to generate as many ideas as you can.  Don’t judge or critique the ideas, just get them down on paper. Don’t get stuck in one area.  If you get stuck in one area go to another branch.

 

 

7.  Consider Using Cross Links

Use cross links (arrows or lines) to connect different ideas because information in one part of the Mind Map may relate to another part.  Cross links help illustrate how some of the ideas and branches are interconnected.

 

  

8.  Review Your Mind Map

After you finish the mind map, take a few minutes to look at it.

  • What stands out?
  • Where are most of the ideas grouped?
  • Are there any gaps between ideas or missing connections?
  • Which ideas came easily?
  • Which ideas were harder to generate?
  • How excited are you about the results?

 

 
9.  Explain Your Mind Map to Someone

Sharing your mind map with someone can help you take your mind map technique to the next level.  As you talk through your ideas, new ideas will emerge.

Jot down notes next to your ideas.

 

 

10.  Redo Your Mind Map

After you discussed your ideas and noted additional, redo you mind map.  As you start to rewrite your ideas more ideas may come to you.