Lesson Three : Creative Thinking.

What is A Mind Map?

•       A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing.
•      The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between portions of information.
•       Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories. By presenting ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner, mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and organizational tasks.
•      Though the branches of a mind map represent hierarchical tree structures, their radial arrangement disrupts the prioritizing of concepts typically associated with hierarchies presented with more linear visual cues.
•      This orientation towards brainstorming encourages users to enumerate and connect concepts without a tendency to begin within a particular conceptual framework.

Refference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

Ten techniques for mind mapping from Tony Buzan

• Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors.
• Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your Mind Map.
• Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.
• Each word/image is best alone and sitting on its own line.
• The lines should be connected, starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the centre.
• Make the lines the same length as the word/image they support.
• Use multiple colors throughout the Mind Map, for visual stimulation and also to encode or group.
• Develop your own personal style of Mind Mapping.
• Use emphasis and show associations in your Mind Map.
• Keep the Mind Map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical order or outlines to embrace your branches. 
  
  
  More details explanation about mind map : 
  
  
  A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing.
  
  The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between portions of information. Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories.
  By presenting ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner, mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and organizational tasks. Though the branches of a mindmap represent hierarchical tree structures, their radial arrangement disrupts the prioritizing of concepts typically associated with hierarchies presented with more linear visual cues. This orientation towards brainstorming encourages users to enumerate and connect concepts without a tendency to begin within a particular conceptual framework.
  The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea of concept mapping. The former is based on radial hierarchies and tree structures denoting relationships with a central governing concept, whereas concept maps are based on connections between concepts in more diverse patterns.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map]
  
  
  Mind Maps are also useful for:
  ·      Summarizing information.
  ·      Consolidating information from different research sources.
  ·      Thinking through complex problems.
  ·       Presenting information in a format that shows the overall structure of your subject.
   [http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm]
  
  
  How to do mind map?
  
  - Use just keywords or wherever possible images
  - Start from the center of the page and work out.
  - Make the center a clear and strong visual image that depicts the general theme of the map
  - Create sub-centers for sub-themes
  - Put keywords on lines
  - Use arrows, icons or other visual aids to show links between different elements
  - Be creative. Creativity aids memory
  Improve your mind map:
  
  - Use single words or simple phrase for information
  - Print words
  - Use color to separate different ideas
  - Use symbols and images
  - Using cross-linkages
  
  [Information gets from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map, http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm, http://www.peterrussell.com/MindMaps/HowTo.php]
  ==========================================
  
  
  Method Creative Thinking: Logical and Associated mind map Technique
  
  
  Logical Mind Map : Logical Mind Map is directly connected to stereotypes. The Logical mind map comprises of solely stereotype words. This means that every word or image that is put within the mind map is directly related to the central subject through its links. 
  
  
  Associated Mind Map : Associated Mind Map is using an associated mind map we are able to generate random words and also show the links between words that seemingly have no connection. 
  
  
  Logical Mind Map and Stereotypes 
  
  
  Definition of Stereotypes: 
  ·        A conventional, formulae, and oversimplified conception, opinion or image.
  ·        A stereotype is a commonly held popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes]
  ·        Stereotypes are characteristics ascribed to groups of people involving gender, race, national origin and other factors. These characteristics tend to be oversimplifications of the groups involved, however. for examples, Asians tend to look high on Caucasians. Stereotyping is also a form of prejudice that can form damaging images of people because of a particular characteristic without having any knowledge of the person such as how people tend to believe that Middle Eastern people are terrorists and should be feared.
  ·        Stereotypes are sometimes logical and can be true. Some people uses it to remind their kids to be a better person. Stereotypes even help people to be aware over something. Like for example don't trust any gypsies.
  ·        Stereotypes are commonly seen in media presentation. It usually labels one group or community to a specific characteristic. Most of the stereotypes are negative. In other word, criticize the whole group or community. Therefore, the whole world will label that community because of the stereotype media.
  ·        Stereotype media can label a community to a positive (e.g. tall men are good in basketball) or negative (e.g. female drivers are bad drivers) characteristic. It creates an identity to a community. Stereotypes ignore the uniqueness of individuals by painting all members of a group with the same brush.
  "In literature and art, stereotypes are clichéd or predictable characters or situations. Throughout history, storytellers have drawn from stereotypical characters and situations, in order to connect the audience with new tales immediately." quote from Wikipedia.
  
  In order to connect with the audience, most of the storytellers characterize the character according to the history or the implant of characteristic about the certain community. Therefore, the judgement about the community will be deeper and deeper.

  
  

  ------------------------------- [ Here is another creative mind map ] -------------------------------