Organize your ideas with mind maps

(Article originally published in 2007, updated in 2019)

Professionals, students or teachers, organize your ideas with mind maps!
The tools you need to get organized…

Problem

• Are you starting an ambitious project and struggling to organize all your ideas?
• Your last 'brainstorming' was particularly creative and you don't know where to start the 'debriefing'?
• Or perhaps you are a student and want to organize your thoughts?
• Finally, are you a teacher looking for a simple way to present the essential ideas of your course?

Solution

So the " mental map" Or " mind map " is the solution you need!

The notion of " map of ideas "(Mind Map in English) was first conceived by Aristotle, and then more recently (in 1971), it was developed by Tony buzan an English psychologist.

This rather schematic way of representing thought depicts a central idea which is then developed in the form of branches using images or words. This tree-like representation is why it is also called " idea tree"

Representing ideas in the form of a mind map has many advantages:

• first she can be easily implementedwith just a simple sheet of paper, colored pencils or markers. This makes it an ideal tool for taking quick notes or reorganizing ideas after a brainstorming session.
• it is easily memorableTherefore, it has become a preferred tool for teachers and students who want to summarize their lessons. It has become an indispensable mnemonic learning tool for grasping complex concepts.
• she can share easily in various forms (as an image or a very small computer file)
• With the help of computers, we can add to it a certain interactivity, for example by expanding or hiding certain branches or simply by adding hyperlinks to them.
  As a result, it becomes an indispensable tool for organizing your concepts, prioritizing and clarifying your ideas.

Some mind mapping software

I've selected a short list of mind mapping software for you. Feel free to try several before choosing the one that best suits your needs.

FreeMind

The software FreeMind It is open source. It is a small, free executable file that exists in a French version.
Available on Mac and PC (Windows or Linux), I recommend it for its lightness and simplicity.

Framindmap

Also free software, Framindmap is published by Framasoft (an association from the educational sector). A completely free, lightweight version is available directly. accessible onlineThis makes it the preferred "mind mapping" software for teachers and students.

Mindomo

Mindomo is a freeminimum software (free for 3 maps, it switches to paid mode with subscription for unlimited creation of mind maps).
Its added advantage is its presentation style and the fact that it is available on tablets (iPad and Android).

MindManager

This paid tool, bundled with the MindJet software suite, is preferred by project managers in the corporate world. Its interface (version 8) is reminiscent of the Office suite, so those familiar with office software will find it easy to use.

SimpleMind

A multi-platform tool (PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android) in freemium mode (the free version has limited features) which is quite graphically pleasing.

This list is not exhaustive; many other solutions exist (often in English).
But if you start with one of them, you'll already have enough to create some great mind maps.

Alright, let's get to work! 😁

Did you enjoy this article, or do you know of another solution that I should definitely test here? Feel free to leave a comment below.