3.1 Hand-drawn or digital mind maps?

Mind maps can be hand-drawn or produced digitally. Which kind is more beneficial? Both mapping styles have a place in supporting academic studies. Let’s think about some pros and cons for each.

Table 1 Features of hand-drawn and digital mind maps

Hand-drawn mind maps Digital mind maps
  • encourage a free flow of thoughts onto the paper
  • promote a kinaesthetic action between your hand and brain which helps with memorising
  • restricted by the size/edge of the paper
  • good for revision
  • no size limit
  • usually have pre-set symbols, charts, etc.
  • easy to rethink and amend later
  • can incorporate references from online/digital sources
  • the flow of ideas can be hindered when the branches are not related to words
  • there are many free/cheap software packages out there, as well as others that are quite pricey

Mind maps aren’t exclusively used for brainstorming and organisation. They can also be used for:

  • Note-taking – create a map before a lecture and add to it during the lecture.
  • Note-making – make a map of the main themes in the book/article/lecture you are studying, add related branches. You will be able to form more connections.
  • Revision – create a hand-drawn map using the method above as a memory aid.
  • Planning assignments – get an overview of your assignment and plan your paragraphs with a hand-drawn or digital map.

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