The mind mapper's

TOOLKIT
BY DR JANE GENOVESE
 CONTENT

MIND MAPPING
1 INTRODUCTION:
2
MAKING SENSE OF
3 TOOLS
MY STORY MIND MAPS

BARRIERS TO MIND
4 HOW TO MIND MAP 5 MAPPING
6 MIND MAP HACKS

7 DRAW BETTER 8 DEALING WITH MIND 9 CREATING YOUR

PICTURES MAP SNOBS OWN MIND MAPS

© Learning Fundamentals 2023

www.learningfundamentals.com.au
jane@learningfundamentals.com.au
THE LIFE CHANGING MAGIC OF
MIND MAPPING
MY STORY: FROM EPIC FAILURE TO STUDY SUCCESS

How would you feel if you got 1 out of 20 (5%) for a test Still to this day, I can remember the sense of calm
or exam? Upset? Embarrassed? This happened to me for and control I experienced while taking that exam. I
my first test at university. had mastered the content. I understood it.

Still to this day I can remember the awkward feeling of A few weeks later I got my exam paper back. I had
taking the test, flipping through my books trying to find passed with flying colours. I had survived my first
the answer to the question in front of me. I had no idea semester of university.
what I was doing.
That was 20 years ago.
I knew that I didn’t get 5% because I was stupid. Walking
out of that test I knew what was missing was an effective So what's happened since then?
way to study. I had managed to get good marks in high
school by rote learning. The problem was I never really I went on to complete degrees in Law and
understood what I was learning! Psychology, scored in the top 2% of my university,
and was awarded a scholarship to do a PhD (which
All of this changed when I learnt how to mind map at I completed in 2017). I am almost certain that
university. without mind mapping I would not have made it
through my university studies.
In order to pass the unit and stay in law school, I had to
do well in the final exam (it was worth 70% of my overall In this toolkit, I’m going to give you everything you
grade). need to create mind maps to help you master your
subjects. Read on!
So here’s what I did: I left my big textbooks at home and
all I brought in to the final exam was a file of simple mind
maps I had created.
MY LAW SCHOOL MIND MAPS
JUST A SMALL SELECTION (I CREATED HUNDREDS MORE)
An article featured in newspaper
The West Australian
(4 August 2010)
 MAKING SENSE OF
MIND MAPS
AND WHY
WHAT'S A SHOULD I
MIND MAP? DO IT?

I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!

A mind map is a more Mind maps can help clarify
visual way of taking notes your thinking, simplify
and learning information. complex ideas, and
Mind maps contain words, memorise information more
colours, lines, and pictures. effectively.

Mind maps allow you to Finally, mind maps allow

see the big picture and you to be creative. This
how different ideas are to makes it easier for you stay
connected to one another. engaged with the course
content.

"HOW DO I CREATE A MIND MAP?"

It's easy and I'll show you how.
But first you need to grab a few tools.
 BEFORE YOU GET STARTED

SET YOURSELF UP
SOME HANDY TOOLS TO GET THE JOB DONE
 WARNING
THE DANGERS OF HAVING TOO MANY COLOURED PENS
AND FANCY STATIONERY

THE
PARADOX OF

CHOICE
I used to think having more
pens meant more mind
mapping. But it doesn't work
like that.

A giant selection of pens in

different shades of colour can
look pretty. But it's a trap.
Lots of pens will slow you
down and stress you out.

Research has found too much

choice results in stress and
overwhelm.

Too much choice can lead to

decision fatigue.

Fancy stationery may

intimidate you and make it
harder for you to start mind
mapping.

LIMIT YOUR PEN SELECTION TO NO MORE THAN 12

COLOURS. THE AIM IS TO SPEND MORE TIME MIND
MAPPING AND LESS TIME STATIONERY SHOPPING.
 HOW TO
MINDMAP
A STEP BY STEP PROCESS FROM MY BOOK
'SMART STUDY: HOW TO STUDY LESS AND GET MORE'
3
 NOW IT'S OVER TO YOU...

THE 15 MINUTE
MIND MAP
CHALLENGE
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS...

Set aside 15 minutes to understand

some information or nut out a problem
you've been grappling with by creating
a mind map.

Clear a space at your desk. Grab some

coloured pens, a sheet of A3 or A4
paper, a timer and work through the
information (drawing pictures and
capturing key ideas as you go).
Hi
When a little negative voice says, “That
looks like rubbish. You can't draw”, keep
going. Remember, this isn't about
creating a work of art.

When you get bogged down, create

another branch. The key is to keep
moving. Mind map as if you're on fire.

Treat this as a fun experiment. Maybe it

will work. Maybe it won’t. But like
anything in life, you won’t know unless
you give it a shot.

Email me your finished mind map for

extra imaginary bonus points!
THE TWO MOST COMMON
BARRIERS TO
MIND MAPPING
“I can’t draw” & “It takes too long”
“I can’t draw”: Actually, you can draw better than
you think

Mind mapping is actually really easy to do. And you don’t

need any artistic ability to mind map. If you can draw a
stick figure, then you have what it takes.

My best advice: draw lots of pictures, even if they look

like rubbish. When you get sick of drawing, take a dep
breath and continue to draw some more pictures.

I can't say this enough: It's not about drawing pretty

pictures. The aim of the game is to learn information at
a deep level. Instead of pretty, go for absurd and
ridiculous. Why? Because this will aid memory retention
and recall.

“It takes too long”: There are ways to speed up the mind mapping process

Remember, mind mapping is like any skill. It takes practice. It can be a little slow at first.
But once you clock up a few hours and get through your first few mind maps (these can
feel a little awkward), you’ll find you’ll be mind mapping with such efficiency and speed.

There is no escaping the fact that mind mapping takes time. It takes effort. But all that
being said, everything worth doing in life takes time and effort. The way I look at it is this
is time and effort well spent.

When you mind map as you read, it can take two to three times longer to study. But start
to see that extra time as an investment in your studies. Why? Because you're not going to
get to the end of reading a chapter in your textbook and think, "What was that all
about?" You will understand the content better. You will have a better chance of the
information sticking.

Want to learn how to speed up the mind mapping

process and draw better pictures? Read on!
MIND MAP HACKS
SIMPLE WAYS TO SPEED UP
THE MIND MAPPING PROCESS

1. Ditch your coloured pens

As much as I love colour, I have occasionally used just a black
artline pen to create my mind maps when I’ve been short on
time. By not having to change coloured pens, take lids off and
put them back on again, and decide on what colour to use
next, you can save a bit of time.

Your mind maps may not look as exciting but you can always
add a bit of colour as you review your mind map content later
on. I sometimes just circle key information in a coloured
crayon or highlighter pen.

2. Don't ditch your coloured pens:

Invest in a set of paintbrush style
pens instead
It’s a real shame to give up using coloured pens on your mind
maps. The good news is you can keep using coloured pens by
using a paintbrush style marker.

Here's the thing: most mind maps have branches that go thick
to thin. To create this effect with a fine tip marker requires a
lot of colouring in. However, by using a paintbrush pen you
can create the thick to thin branch in a few simple strokes.

I have a set of Tombow dual brush pens. They are quite

expensive but they are quality markers that will last several
years. The small tip works well for creating smaller branches
and the paintbrush style tip is perfect for creating the main
branches.

Another thing I like about these pens is that the ink doesn’t
bleed through the paper like a lot of other fancy art pens
tend to.
MIND MAP HACKS
CONTINUED...
3. Slap out your drawings
One of the biggest time wasters with mind mapping is being
overly precious about your drawings. How many times have I
seen a student spend ten minutes or more drawing a
detailed, intricate central image on their mind maps? Too
many times!

Don’t lose sight of the reason you are mind mapping – it’s to
learn information at a deep level, not to get accepted into a
fine arts program! So you can relax with your drawings. Stick
figures will do the job.

4. Only mind map out the good

stuff
In my experience mind maps work best when you're trying to
understand complex ideas. Some information you need to
absorb will be straightforward and can be put straight onto a
flashcard (you may not need to mind map it). Other
information won’t be so relevant.

The bottom line is not everything needs to be mind mapped.

As you read your book and mind map the infomation, ask
yourself:

“Do I really need to know this?”

If the answer is no, then don’t bother mind mapping it.

MIND MAP HACKS
CONTINUED...
5. Use A3 Paper
A3-size paper provides the perfect amount of space for mind
mapping a topic. If you use A4 paper you may find yourself
having to start new mind maps more regularly as a result of
not being able to fit as much information on the page.

For this reason, I highly recommend using an A3-size visual art

diary. It will reduce the number of central images you need to
draw.

6. Mind map every day

Mind mapping is like any skill, the more you do it the better
(and the faster) you’ll get at it.

When I first started mind mapping I was quite slow in creating

my mind maps. “Am I doing this right?” and “My pictures look
silly. I 'd better start this mind map again”, I would say. I
wasted a lot of time worrying for nothing. But after a few
weeks of practice, mind mapping became second nature to
me.

If you mind map on a daily basis, you will be surprised at how

fast you can get at pumping out mind maps.

All that being said, it’s not a race. You need to allow yourself
the time and space to think through an idea and draw it out
in a way that will be memorable and meaningful to you.
MIND MAP HACKS
CONTINUED...
7. Set up mind mapping cues
A clever strategy you can use to help you mind map more
frequently is to leave the things you need to mind map (e.g.,
coloured pens, A3 paper, and textbook) lying around on
surfaces where you work – on the kitchen table, on your desk,
near the couch, etc.

When you set up 'mind mapping cues' like this, it makes it

easier to get started. Whenever you've got a spare ten
minutes you can sit down and start mind mapping out an
idea.

A mind mapping cue set up on my kitchen table

 DRAW BETTER
PICTURES
I GET THAT A PRETTY PICTURE IS EASIER ON THE EYE

If you’re not satisfied with your stick figures, the good news is you
can improve your drawing skills and it doesn’t have to take you
years of hard work and practice.

My mother, Sharon, who produces all of the high quality mind

maps you see featured on my website has been drawing since
she was three. She slogged away at art school and as a
children’s illustrator for many years. Now, she whips out fun, little
drawings at amazing speeds with ease while sitting in front of
the TV or waiting for the bus.

My mum always tells me:

“The more you draw, the better you’ll get”.

And you know what? She's right. Practice makes a big
difference.

But let’s say you want to improve your drawing skills and don’t
have years to devote to this activity like my mum did. How can
you fast track your drawing skills and take them to the next level?

There are some amazing resources out there that show you how
to draw the basics. And the basics are all you really need if
you're taking visual notes for your subjects.

Check out the resources I recommend on the next page.

 RESOURCES TO HELP
YOU DRAW LIKE A PRO
 HOW TO DEAL WITH
MIND MAP SNOBS
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING QUOTES OUT LOUD
IN A PATRONISING, WHINY TONE:

“What is this thing you're drawing?

Are you back in primary school?
I thought this was university!"

“Isn't that cute!"

"That technique doesn't work
for me. I take notes on my
laptop!"
Some people can be patronising and even downright rude when they see you mind
mapping. I experienced this several times when I was at Law school. “Isn’t that cute!”
students would say as they saw me mind map out legal ideas, legislation, and case law.
But looking back, I can’t help but think that maybe these students were slightly insecure
and a little closed minded.

If someone makes a comment like “Cute pictures!” here's what you need to do:

Smile politely and say, “Thanks. You have to do what works best for you. And this works
for me”, and carry on mind mapping.

When you start receiving amazing grades because you understand the material at a deep
level, you’ll have the last laugh.

Think mind mapping is a technique for only

primary school students? Think again!
WHY YOU NEED TO CREATE YOUR
OWN MIND MAPS
(AND PREFERABLY WITH PEN AND PAPER)

A Year 11 student who studied human biology I really don't think that mind map would have
got really annoyed with me a few years ago. helped her much. Why?
Why? Because I didn’t give her a copy of the
above mind map before her human biology test. Because she didn’t create it.

This is what she said to me during a You don’t learn complex information by looking
presentation: at someone else's mind map and absurd
images. How you get the edge is by taking the
"If you had given me time to think through the different ideas and
map them out yourself.
a copy of that mind
Sorry, there are no shortcuts. You have to put
map before the test, pen to paper. But the benefits will be well

I would have done worth it.

heaps better. So what are you waiting for? You've got

nothing to lose and everything to gain. Give it
a shot and let me know how you go.

Thanks for nothing!" Happy mind mapping!

 OTHER RESOURCES
Interested in learning other ways to study more effectively?
Check out this new book we've created.

Study Hacks: Your Survival

Guide for High School
Forget the idea of reading your books
over and over again or highlighting
entire paragraphs of information. Old-
fashioned study methods are painful,
boring and not very effective. There is
a better way. This book will show you
how.

In Study Hacks you will learn:

How to motivate yourself at anytime

How to eat for maximum brain power
How to be a ‘completionist’ (not a perfectionist)
How to stop procrastinating
How to study smarter, not harder
How to manage technology and minimise
distractions
And much, much more!

“This book is great and more than a

study guide. It is easy to read, with
bite-size pieces of great, practical
advice about how to develop and
manage study skills with a healthy
student lifestyle. Great for secondary
students. I highly recommend it. ”

-Parent of secondary students

Study Hacks is available at www.learningfundamentals.com.au

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Jane Genovese is the owner,
coordinator, and presenter of
Learning Fundamentals, an
organisation that teaches
students how to learn more
effectively.

Jane delivers interactive

presentations on effective
study strategies, combating
procrastination, exam
preparation strategies, and
how to focus in the age of
distraction.

She graduated from Murdoch university in 2009 with a

Bachelor of laws and Bachelor of psychology with first class
honours and received a Vice Chancellor’s Award for
Academic Excellence. In 2017, she complered her doctoral
thesis.

When Jane isn't delivering talks in schools or mind mapping,

she enjoys lifting weights, making zines, and cooking plant-
based meals with vegetables from her garden.

CONNECT WITH JANE

Email: jane@learningfundamentals.com.au
Website: https://www.learningfundamentals.com.au
 the end?
Actually this is the beginning of your journey at
becoming masterful at learning.

Want to learn more creative and practical strategies

to boost your grades and cut your study time in half?

Jump online and visit:

www.learningfundamentals.com.au