Visual mind learning tools helps users who are visual learners enhance these skills, and allows those who may not realize the capabilities of visual learning to give it a try. The most popular of the visual learning tools are mind maps. Mind maps help users by pushing the brain to expand on its learning powers with visual cues. These cues can be lines, images, colors, shapes, words and any other graphics the user feels would help to encourage the thinking process. Below are the most common cues and how each cue plays its own very important role in memory assistance.
Lines.Lines serve two purposes: to connect the related information, and also as knowledge branches. Knowledge branches are lines that contain triggering information for the brain. Without these lines to connect thoughts and ideas, the map would be awkward to view and difficult to comprehend.
Boundaries.Boundaries group and highlight important information and force the brain to remember these groups as opposed to recalling information in a singular list form. Boundaries makes it possible for users to add information or facts on the side (of the mind map) that may not have an exact place where it can be attached, but relates to the central purpose of the mind map.
Images. Visual learners love images, and mind maps allows these learners to take their knowledge base to next level by using Images to convey just about whatever they please. There is always an image to represent any concept, idea or action. The most important image when mind mapping is the central image. The central image draws the reader’s eyes to the central topic and immediately the brain begins to process information. For example, when viewing the attached mind map, the central image screams learning, mind, visual, and thinking. Another reader of the mind may comprehend more from the image, but ultimately the image has served its intended purpose.
Colors. Colors help to add emphasis. Incorporating colors into a mind map not only makes it attractive, but helps the mind to organize chunks of information, much like boundaries. In mind maps, colors and images have the most leeway. This is true because an image can be placed anywhere and colors can be applied to enhance or boost the effectiveness of other cues.
Text. The most used and most beneficial for non-visual learners, the text cue is the more straightforward of the group. Often the best way to explain or remember a concept is to simply jot it down. Not only are word cues easy to recall and understand, you can also add on to the benefits of text by incorporating different colors, fonts and sizes. Of course a mind map can be text only, but to receive the full experience of heightened learning, the user should take advantage of other visual cues as well.
Although highly-preferred among the visual learners, mind maps have quickly become the go-to resources for all methods of learning. The visual cues provided by mind mapping software help users to organize and recall important information with little or no effort.
