Mind Maps and Thinking Hats

Prof. Lakshman Madurasinghe, PhD Consultant Psychologist; Attorney

Mind Mapping

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What is mind mapping?

Developed in the 1960s by Tony Buzan to help

students make notes by using keywords and images.

Non-linear thinking and associative memory Visual brainstorming tool. Use connections between keywords to map

knowledge to help improve understanding and recall.

Aids high level and critical thinking.

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Whats it used for?

Organising thoughts and ideas
Reading papers Lecture notes Writing Knowledge bases Problem solving
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How to do a Mind Map

Start with main idea at the centre of the page.
Think quickly and non-linearly Use keywords Point out relationships between concepts with

lines.
Colour-code related concepts. Use images

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Foundations
Brainstorming is the first step towards

Mind Mapping

Brainstorming is a way of finding simple associations between things. However, brainstorming exercises are different from Mind Maps in that they are often two-dimensional and monotone.

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Foundations
A central image should form the basis of

your Mind Map. Images are more evocative than words. They often trigger associations more readily. This means they are better to enhancing thinking and creativity.

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Sample Maps: Lecture notes

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Foundations
I also shows that it is ludicrous that over

95% of note-taking/making is done without the benefit of images.

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Foundations
What if I cant draw or my drawing is

bad?

Anyone can learn to draw! The key is to practise

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Foundations
The reason why so many people

assume they are incapable of of creating images is that, instead of understanding that the brain always succeeds through continued experimentation, they mistake initial failure for fundamental incapacity and as its true measure of their talent. (Buzan)

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

From your central image you should

radiate Key Words Key Words should be PRINTED on curved lines flowing from the central image. These lines should be the same length as the words. By printing them you naturally EMPHASISE THEM.

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

Key words should be basic ordering

ideas (or key concepts) and from these concepts associated ideas should flow. Words radiate their own associations

E.g. Dog, bone, cat What did you think of next? Your next thought is an example of an association
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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

If you find it difficult
What are the most

working out what your key ideas are then try answering the following questions:

important seven categories in the area under consideration? What are my basic questions? Why?, What?,Where?,Who?, How?,Which?,When? often serve as major branches in a Mind Map.

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Brainstorming to Mind Mapping

If you find yourself having a mental

block then try adding blank lines to the key words Mind Map. [The brain] will almost instantaneously find associations, especially when given the trigger of additional stimulus. (Buzan)

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Sample Maps: Writing

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Sample Maps: CV

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BRAIN WRITING

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Use of colour
Yellow- inspiration , power of mind, bright ideas, joy, laughter Green- balance, harmony, calmness , bridge between emotions and higher reasons, decision making, flowing with life Blue- Creativity, teaching ability, calm after the storm, peace beyond understanding

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Use of colour
Violet- Wisdom Pink- Warmth , tenderness, all is well

Golden- Brilliance, higher creativity

Red- Anger, fear, raw power, strength to be well, fire Orange- pleasure, warmth, passion, bliss
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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

Master in his field but sometimes appeared to be in a dream , at other times pragmatic, suddenly critical.

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

The Four Character states

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

The Dreamer
Able to fantasize, pure creativity with no boundaries. what if..

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

The Realist
Able to realistically implement a plan As if.

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

The Critic Able to constructively criticize a plan, identifying any flaws that would prevent it from working

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

The Impartial
Able to stand back and take a detached view of a situation

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Creative thinking- Walt Disney way

As a group select a work related problem and use Walt Disney method to find a solution 15 mts

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Creative thinking example- 10 mts

Three women each have two daughters, and they all go into a restaurant for a meal.There are only seven vacant seats in the restaurant, but each has a seat to herself.
How did they manage it ?
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Seven Thinking Hats 6+1

An aid to decision making and problem solving.

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The Red Hat

What do you feel about the suggestion? What are your gut reactions? What intuitions do you have? Dont think too long or too hard.
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The White Hat

The information seeking hat. What are the facts? What information is available? What is relevant? When wearing the white hat we are neutral in our thinking.
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The Yellow Hat

The sunshine hat. It is positive and constructive. It is about effectiveness and getting a job done. What are the benefits, the advantages?
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The Black Hat

The caution hat. In black hat the thinker points out errors or pit-falls. What are the risks or dangers involved? Identifies difficulties and problems.
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The Green Hat

This is the creative mode of thinking. Green represents growth and movement. In green hat we look to new ideas and solutions. Lateral thinking wears a green hat. 36

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The Blue Hat

The control hat, organising thinking itself. Sets the focus, calls for the use of other hats. Monitors and reflects on the thinking processes used. Blue is for planning. 37

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7 th hat- GOLD
Use of 6 colour hats for decision making Seeing from different anglesI am proposing a new hat- GOLD

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The GOLD Hat

The Value hat, filtering thoughts. Analyze each thought against 8 point yardstick. True, honest, just, pure,lovely,good report, virtue, praise. E-Consciousness based 39

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Seven Thinking Hats

Informative

Intuitive
Reflective

Constructive Creative

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Cautious

Value-Centered 40 E-Consciousness

Managing The Thinking

Blue Hat

Neutral & Objective Checked & Believed Facts Missing Information & Where To Source It

Information & Data

White Hat

Setting The Focus Making Summaries Overviews Conclusions Action Plans

Why It May Not Work

Cautions Dangers Problems Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Black Hat

FOCUS Why It May Work

Yellow Hat

Values & Benefits (Both Known & Potential) The Good In It Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Possibilities Alternatives New Ideas New Concepts Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values

Creative Thinking

Green Hat

Emotions Or Hunches At This Point No Reasons or Justification Keep It Short

Feelings & Intuition

Red Hat

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Managing The Thinking

Blue Hat

GOLD Overall quality check against values

Neutral & Objective Checked & Believed Facts Missing Information & Where To Source It

Information & Data

White Hat

Setting The Focus Making Summaries Overviews Conclusions Action Plans

Why It May Not Work

Cautions Dangers Problems Faults Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Black Hat

FOCUS Why It May Work

Yellow Hat

Values & Benefits (Both Known & Potential) The Good In It Logical Reasons Must Be Given

Possibilities Alternatives New Ideas New Concepts Overcome Black Hat Problems & Reinforce Yellow Hat Values

Creative Thinking

Green Hat

Emotions Or Hunches At This Point No Reasons or Justification Keep It Short

Feelings & Intuition

Red Hat

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