Start With Hand Drawing

Many people bypass digital devices entirely, opting for pen and paper to clarify their thoughts. There’s a unique satisfaction in simply sketching.

You can replicate this experience on an iPad with a stylus. My go-to strategy for mind mapping involves using an app that provides an infinite canvas.

I prefer Nebo. After installing and launching it, you can select between “New page” and “New free form page.” I recommend the “New free form page” option.

Here’s a mind map I created about planets using the Nebo app and an Apple Pencil.

While it might not be visually appealing, here are its advantages:

• It takes just about 10 seconds to launch the app, create a page, and start sketching.
• You can write freely, and Nebo will convert it to text if desired.
• There are no size restrictions, allowing for expansive creativity.
• Unlike paper, you can easily rearrange elements.
• You can print or email your creation afterward.

Sometimes, this method is sufficient for organizing ideas, but there are limitations:

• Rearranging even a simple mind map can become tedious.
• New branches don’t automatically adjust when nodes are added.
• While you can insert images, linking documents to specific areas can be challenging.

We can definitely improve this process.

A Simple Yet Effective Mind Mapping App

My enthusiasm for mind mapping the Solar System led me to explore an app that provides added value without overwhelming complexity. MindNode stands out as an excellent choice. It keeps things simple and uncluttered.

In about a minute, I can add planets, then proceed to include their moons.

However, I realize that my knowledge regarding which planets have which moons is limited. I could switch to Safari for research, but is there a more efficient way?

iThoughts for Enhanced Functionality

While MindNode aims for simplicity, iThoughts offers a robust suite of features, including built-in research capabilities.

I export my mind map to iThoughts.

The structure of the mind map changes, but I’m not concerned at this stage; I’m eager to utilize its research capabilities. By tapping on the Jupiter node, I gain instant access to information.

The app features an integrated browser that opens Google, displaying the content from the selected node. You can adjust your search parameters and navigate between pages seamlessly.

Upon clicking the link for "Nasa Solar System Exploration," I gather all necessary details and decide to make it a topic. By tapping the title bar, a menu of options appears.

Choosing to insert a link adds it to the original node. Opting to “Make topic” creates a new child node linked to the information. I selected to create a topic.

Through the embedded browser, adding web links to reference materials becomes straightforward. Later, I can compile all sources into a single reference page.

Creating a mind map with references to articles on each planet and key moons took me about 5 minutes.

It would be engaging to include images of the planets, so I proceed to do that. Tapping the node and selecting “attach” initiates this process.

This task took an additional ten minutes, as I needed to save the images to my Camera Roll before embedding them.

With this setup, I can categorize the Solar System into Gas Giants and Inner Planets, but the distinction isn’t immediately clear. Utilizing iThoughts’ region feature can help with this.

I made a few adjustments:

• Switching to landscape orientation felt more intuitive.
• Web links were incorporated for the Sun and the Solar System.
• I enlarged the Sun to reflect its true size.
• Arrows were added to emphasize the largest moons.

While iThoughts doesn’t guarantee predictable layout changes, I needed to experiment with the options to find a satisfactory arrangement, possibly due to the import from MindNode.

We’ve transitioned from merely sketching on a blank canvas to creating a structured map that references source materials, all without leaving the app for research.

Extracting Information from the Mind Map

iThoughts provides numerous export options:

• Exporting an image typically captures the visible content.
• Exporting to PowerPoint generates slides based on the map structure, with bullet points for subtopics and images placed in appendices.
• Exporting to Word follows a similar approach, using Word styles instead of slides.
• iThoughts supports the native formats of major mind mapping applications.

I decided to print my mind map, selecting an A3 paper size and scaling it down to 25%. This created a PDF with active links listed at the end, making it easy to identify information sources.

Starting with Templates

Several mind mapping applications, including XMind, SimpleNote, and Mindomo, offer template libraries that can help get started.

Here’s an example from Mindomo:

And here’s one from XMind:

Templates provide a solid starting point for new projects, standardizing your approach and enhancing efficiency. While it may seem mundane, a standardized method helps prevent overlooking critical details.

For instance, had I begun my Solar System exploration with Mindomo, this template would have guided me!

Not only would it have expedited my mind map creation, but it would have prompted me to seek additional intriguing facts about the planets.

While mapping the Solar System isn’t a daily task, preparing reports and writing essays is common. I frequently utilize SWOT diagrams, and these mind mapping tools can assist with templates for various tasks.

Conclusion

I began by highlighting how mind maps can sometimes mirror the confusion of the information they aim to clarify. Starting with a simple approach can mitigate this issue. You can create a basic mind map using drawing apps like Concepts, Nebo, or Notes. If that suffices, you can stop there. However, if you require more, numerous excellent options are available.

Applications like MindNode enable you to craft effective mind maps quickly and elegantly. You can incorporate links to source materials and enhance the visual appeal of your maps.

For extensive research, an app like iThoughts facilitates internet searches without leaving the interface, seamlessly integrating your findings into the mind map.

For larger projects, particularly in unfamiliar areas, apps such as XMind and Mindomo provide templates, allowing for a quick start and standardized research approaches.

Given the ease of sharing data among mind mapping applications, I often use multiple tools. MindNode is typically my starting point, while I turn to iThoughts for more intricate tasks. I'm also beginning to explore templates.

Regardless of the tools you choose, remember to pace yourself. Don’t anticipate mastering complex applications from day one; grow into them and enjoy the boost in productivity they provide.