Name: MindMeister.com
Summary: MindMeister is an online brainstorming (mind mapping) emerging technology. Mind mapping can be used for any type of educational purpose, business purposes, and individual use such as scheduling and organization. MindMeister allows any individual to brainstorm and create a mind map online, but it also allows for collaboration between multiple people who use MindMeister. Students can use mind mapping for note-taking, research, interactive presentations, or for simple organization and academic planning. MindMeister.com claims that students who use mind mapping to study display greater memory retention than through the use of traditional study techniques. Click this video for the MindMeister tutorial below:
Personal Testimony: To begin using MindMeister, I first watched the tutorial video posted above. I signed up for the "basic" account, which is free. Signing up includes entering a username, password, and an email address. After signing up, I looked at the default "sample mind map" to see what it looks like. In order to learn how to format the mind mapping web, I clicked on the "Help" tab. In this section, there are instructions detailing how to format the page, how to add ideas (nodes), sub-topics (child nodes), and so-on. There are keypad shortcuts for most of the formatting options. Without the help section and the tutorial video, it could be pretty confusing to make a mind map for the first time. Once I found out how to use the basic options, I created my first mind map with the subject "Behavior Modification Program".
My First Mind Map:
Tips/Suggestions: When you sign up for a free account, you have a limited number of mind maps that you can create. Be careful about creating a new mind map and deleting it, because I do not know if that counts as one of your free mind maps. Learn about how to create all the categories and subcategories before diving into a brainstorming session. If you do not know how to format the mind map "web", it can slow down and hamper your "brainstorming flow". I believe that when you are researching or creating a project, the rhythm and flow of brainstorming is very important. This rhythm can be interrupted if you have to spend time figuring out how to organize your ideas. After all, the purpose of this emerging technology is to help organize your thoughts.
Hi Jon, Dan from MindMeister here. First and foremost, thanks for the praise (that's my voice behind the Tour of MindMeister video). :)
ReplyDeleteTo address your question, under our Basic accounts, you're able to have up to 3 maps at any given time. Meaning, you can create an unlimited number of maps, but only your three most recent maps will be available. We do not delete any users' content. The thinking here is, if you find value in the MindMeister service, and want to have access to a number of additional features, an upgrade to our Premium Plan for less than $5/month will also allow you access to an unlimited number of mind maps.
Regarding the flow of mind mapping, I'm in complete agreement about breaking it. A quick tip: Enter and Tab are the only two keys you'll need to get moving quickly. Enter creates new parent nodes, Tab creates child nodes.
Thanks again, and happy mind mapping!