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Original poster

Mind Mapping - Tony Burzan - anyone come across him?

31 replies

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 14:13

One of my children learns differntly to the rest.
He is bright but struggles with exams and now that he has GCSE's looming I want to try and see if there is an alternative.

I have bought Mind Mapping for kids which he is reading and also Burzan's Use Your Head which I will read.

Anyone else found this a good way to learn? Revise?

I am hoping that he will start year 10 and mind map most days everything he has learnt so eventually revising happens as he goes along rather than ineffectual cramming which does him no good what so ever.

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Original poster

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 14:46

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Mintyy · 27/05/2009 14:49

I bought his book. Someone recommended it to me to help with my general chaoticness and disorganisedness (not real words, I know) and inability to ever get anything finished.

Have not read it though. It is lost somewhere in the swamp that is my bedroom.

Sorry, that is not helpful to you or anyone else is it?

ShannaraTiger · 27/05/2009 14:53

I've brought his book "Make the most of your mind" It talks about mind mapping as well. It makes sense but I need to read it a few more times and actualy work through it properly. I'm hopeful it will help counteract teh negative impact my epilepsy and medication is having on my brain.

Original poster

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 15:03

the book for children looks fabulous and ds has already starting reading and assimilating

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Original poster

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 15:21

it seems to be teaching a differnt way of learning - mind maps which I am sure we all knwo but how to develop them and make them parto f your learngin

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bruffin · 27/05/2009 18:55

I was thinking about geting it. DS's RE teacher recommended mind mapping in his report. JUst asked DS and he says they are taught it in history and sometimes science.

castlesintheair · 27/05/2009 18:59

We were encouraged to use this when I was doing my A'levels (a long time ago). It was really useful for helping you to remember key points (sub-headings almost) and then hopefully you could remember a few points/arguments that stemmed from each of these. Quite good for planning essays too once actually in an exam. Completely forgot about it when I was at university.

piscesmoon · 27/05/2009 19:03

I use the Mind Mapping Book in the primary school-I would recommend it.

cornsilk · 27/05/2009 19:08

Yes it's a really good way to revise. You can also get PC programmes to use, 'Inspirations' is one.

popsycal · 27/05/2009 19:09

highly recommended by me

popsycal · 27/05/2009 19:10

i use mind maps in the classroom with y5 and 6

Original poster

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 20:33

oh good! I have started reading it and so far very impressed. DS seems keen too

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Whizzz · 27/05/2009 20:35

We looked at Burzan on my dyslexia course - the theory is that you learn better if you can link ideas together rather than just trying to remember random facts in isolation.

I always used to revise this way - add on lots of colours too to make it more memorable.

popsycal · 27/05/2009 21:07

was just coming bavk to say add colour and pictures

Original poster

Beetroot · 27/05/2009 21:54

he talks about coloulrs I will stress this to ds

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OddHair · 27/05/2009 22:25

Tony Buzan was due to have lunch with my ex-boss once, and he rang to ask me where they were going as he'd forgotten! Still makes me snigger.

fryalot · 27/05/2009 22:29

for anyone interested in mind mapping, this book is very useful and helpful

and nothing to do with the fact that the author is a good mate of dp's

fryalot · 27/05/2009 22:30

sorry, that was the workbook

this is the actual book

Karam · 27/05/2009 22:33

As one of the available revision techniques, mind mapping is good because it allows the students to recall the whole topic, and this is better for recalling. However, the key question is what he does with it when it has been made? Fine to put it up and learn bits of info, but this tends to be superficial rote learning which is quite shallow. So, it does need to be accompanied with other forms of revision techniques too (things that require him to link in ideas and develop or expand on info gained - perhaps planning essays, or writing paragraphs or something?). As others have said, mind maps are most effective when there is lots of white space (to allow teh student to be able to visualise the page in the exam), colour and pictures. Mind maps are great in linking together ideas and themes, but less helpful in learning the detail. He should supplement mind mapping with other techniques that would be more effective for recalling. Hopes this helps, and feel free to ask more... I wrote a 18,000 word Master's dissertation on this a couple of years ago, and could say loads more.... (research shows most students have no idea how best tpo revise and lots do really ineffective revision, so your son is not alone!)

Donk · 27/05/2009 22:36

That book looks interesting Squonk!

I have always found mind mapping useful. One think I like about the Inspirations software is that I can mind map in one mode - and turn it into an essay/piece of writing at the click of a mouse...

When revising, I used to find mind mapping really useful for linking information together, and hence remembering it. It worked much better for me to do revision mind mapping by hand. The physical process of drawing and colouring helped me to remember as well.

teafortwo · 27/05/2009 22:47

Oooooh - a thread about mindmapping....

RustyBear · 27/05/2009 22:59

We use thisprogram at the junior school I work at - it's simple to use & you can export the concept maps to word processing & other programs to create lists/tables etc.

Original poster

Beetroot · 28/05/2009 07:45

Karem - I would love to hear more

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elliepac · 28/05/2009 08:05

I use mindmapping with my Year 11's (am a history teacher). For each topic they have done, they have done a mind map of key points/links to remember. However, I always teach them that a mind map gives them (beware poor terminology coming up) the hangers to put the clothes on their naked answer. DOes that make sense? They can memorise the mind map but they must also revise around the topic using other technoques (as Karam says bullet point essay plans, revision cards etc.). The theory behind this is that when they come to their exam, they will remember the mind map and this will act as a trigger for the other knowledge they need to access the higher grades. We'll soon see if it works, their first exam in on Wednesday .

If he can memorise things as he is going along then it will make this time of year in Year 11 much easier. I am absolutely positive over 70% of my kids will be doing useless cramming the night before! grrrrrrr.

Original poster

Beetroot · 28/05/2009 10:55

Do any kids revise as they go along?
should they ideally revise from year 10 - after each topic?

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