Course Description

The Secrets of Effective Mind Mapping by Barry Mapp. (Animations by Michael de Groot)

On this course you’ll learn how to create effective Mind Maps. Mind Mapping requires a different way of thinking to the way we learnt to think at school. So integral to this course the author helps you to ‘see’ this different way of thinking as mind maps are created.

The course demonstrates the key principles of effective mind mapping and will improve your effectiveness (and considerably reduce the time taken) for any task that requires planning, preparation, clarity, and joined-up thinking.

This course is aimed primarily at professionals in business but is suitable for all ages and all groups. The language used is non-technical and the demonstration and video content is high. Professionals can use this course to improve their personal effectiveness at work. Students for example can use this course to improve their study skills (although a separate course for students is currently in development.

The course is ideal for complete newbies to mind mapping and for those that have tried it but could not get it 'to work'. Existing mind mappers who want to check out their technique may also find it a very helpful course.

The go-to person for personal and professional development

Barry Mapp

I'm a sought-after speaker, trainer, and personal development coach based in the UK with a special interest in the brain, accelerated learning and people development. My present focus is developing high quality, simple, innovative, life-skills based, video e-learning courses. A bit of background information about me: I've worked in schools, colleges and universities in the UK, and also in the corporate and SME sector, working with students, teachers, apprentices, managers and leaders. My background is actually in clinical science where I ran an NHS Clinical Biochemistry Department in a District General Hospital and I was also a Quality Consultant to my local hospitals and local Health Authority. Back in 1996, after training in 'mental literacy' with Tony Buzan (the inventor of Mind Mapping), I set up my own training company the House of Learning. A year later, I put some of my new skills to the test and competed in the World Memory and the World Speed Reading Championships (silver medal position in the latter). Altogether, I have 20 years experience working in the personal development sector and in the field of business leadership.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    SECTION 1 Course Introduction

  • 2

    SECTION 2: Observing a mind mapper at work (learn first by observation)

  • 3

    SECTION 3: Reading Mind Maps

    • The benefits from practising reading 'well-constructed mind maps'

    • Read about a Holiday

    • QUIZ - The Gist of the Goan Holiday

    • Read about "How to Mind Map'

    • QUIZ - Key points about how to MIND MAP

    • Read a Mind Map about a Book

    • Quiz - about the book the Seven Laws of Success

    • Useful Rule: Practice the easiest things first
  • 4

    SECTION 4: Getting 'the feel of the technique'

  • 5

    SECTION 5: INTEGRATION - now it's time to reflect upon your learning to date

    • The importance of integrating the key ideas

    • Live session: An exercise to show you HOW your memory works (part 1)

    • Live session: Memory Exercise Part 2

    • Learning is easiest 'Top-Down' - on the importance of Hierarchies and Chunking

    • Reviewing the key points about effective Mind Mapping

    • You've made a start on integrating what you've learnt so far
  • 6

    SECTION 6: Creating your first hand-drawn mind maps (with a helping 'hand')

    • Introduction to the Section

    • Mind Mapping project 1: Your Life Highlights

    • A simple Mind Map template for your Life Highlights

    • Project 2: Setting some Goals

    • A simple template for setting goals

    • Universal Principle: Use all the aids at your disposal
  • 7

    SECTION 7: Create your own Mind Maps

    • Creating a 'personal' mind map

    • Creating a Business or Work-based Mind Map

    • Creating a Mind Map of your choosing

    • Practice makes Permanent
  • 8

    SECTION 8: Review what you have learnt

    • Study, Review and Improve

    • Perserve

    • You have now completed the Course - well done!

    • End Piece - what next?

    • QUIZ - Review the Mind Maps you have created: