What is the Benefit of Colored Branches? Idea Map #92 and Hint #20

On Wednesday, March 5, 2008 I introduced you to Jay Dugger -- long-time mind mapper. The purpose of this posting is two-fold. First, the full version jpg of Jay's map titled "Mapping" is now available above and in pdf format at my website under "Additional Maps". If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically by author or title of the map. Secondly, I promised to address the issue of line color. That will be today's Hint #20.

Keep in mind these are not rules that need to be followed, just helpful hint that can be applied depending on your purpose.

1. The branches surrounding the central image are sometimes thicker to show that they are a main thought.
2. Let's say you have one branch that is red along with all sub branches that attach to it in any way. The ideas are now connected in two ways -- both physically and visually.
3. If each main branch (and associated sub branches) is a different it makes the branches stand out from each other.

These three hints all blend together for one purpose -- improved memory and interest. Take a look at any map that uses all black branches and words. They are rather boring, but again it's the purpose of the map that will drive these decisions.

Idea Map #46 Did We Read the Same Article (Map 4 in the Series)?

On September 16, 2007 I started a series called "Did We Read the Same Article?" Professionals attending the Idea Mapping workshop each create a map from an overview of Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Each map ends up looking quite different, and I'm sharing a series of these maps so you can see how people capture similar information in drastically (yet beautifully) different ways. The second example was posted on September 22, 2007 and the third on September 26, 2007. This posting features a map from Karen, who participated in one of my ACH workshops. She used a color-coding strategy by using the same color for the main branches and another color for the second level of detail.

Idea Map #45: Did We Read the Same Article (Map 3 in the Series)?

On September 16, 2007 I started a series called "Did We Read the Same Article?" Professionals attending the Idea Mapping workshop each create a map from an overview of Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Each map ends up looking quite different, and I'm sharing a series of these maps so you can see how people capture similar information in drastically (yet beautifully) different ways. The second example was posted on September 22, 2007. This posting features Kaizad Irani's map of this subject. Search for other maps from Kaizad in this blog.

Idea Map #44: Did We Read the Same Article (Map 2 in the Series)?

On September 16, 2007 I started a series called "Did We Read the Same Article?" Professionals attending the Idea Mapping workshop each create a map from an overview of Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Each map ends up looking quite different, and I'm sharing a series of these maps so you can see how people capture similar information in drastically (yet beautifully) different ways. This example was created by Denny Sikkila from Mindjet -- and yes, he actually drew it by hand!

Did We Read the Same Article? Idea Map #43. Hint #15

I'm starting a series of idea maps that were created by participants of my workshop titled, "Idea Mapping: A Learning Workshop". These professionals each create a map from an overview of Covey's "7 Habits". Each map ends up looking quite different, has different main branches, different levels of detail, and varied amounts and types of images. In a recent workshop during the debrief of this activity, I had someone ask, "Did we read the same article?" I thought that comment was profound and that there was a lesson and a hint in its content.

The hint is that despite reading the same information or hearing the same speech or being part of the same project, each person has unique ideas and associations which make their maps one-of-a-kind. This is the first map in the "Did we read the same article?" series. The lead idea map comes from Alan Wall of ACH. Enjoy!

P.S. The Idea Mapping Squidoo Lens is ranked #7 in Business and #148 Overall today!

Idea Map #41 - Asymmetric Flaps

On September 4, 2007 I introduced you to pilot Michael Panebianco. He's back with another example of how idea mapping is helping in training for emergency procedures. The asymmetric flaps map is an abnormal situation he had a few months back. It was the first map he did after buying the Idea Mapping book. He thinks it's a poor map, but I disagree. If the map solves the problem or meets the purpose -- it is a good map. It encompassed all of the things he will review for training. He keeps it for a reminder of where he started in his Idea Mapping journey, and because it is actually complete and useful to him.

Idea Map #40 - Aviation Emergency Procedure Training & Hint #14

Meet airline pilot, Michael Panebianco. Michael created map that we call "fires on the airplane map". He used this map as a visualization to study for emergency procedures training. It presents the big picture of dealing with one of the most dangerous situations in aviation. While
existing checklists are linear, this map allows a visual flow of the factors at work in dealing with a fire inside the aircraft. Operating in three dimensions with multiple concerns for safety, a good, big picture presentation helps build a mental path towards simultaneous actions. Michael has other maps that he uses for other aircraft malfunctions with similar time and action concerns. I'll share those in subsequent postings.

Hint #14 involves using an idea to create a visual image that is committed to memory in order to visualize the whole.