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Around my neighborhood in Illinois, the colors of autumn are on display everywhere I look, showcasing their brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. And, just as they did from the time I was in elementary school through my college years, these colors put me in a mood to read and learn. 

While many students may feel a similar eagerness to learn, the process of learning is not as simple as buying a box of new pencils and a stack of empty notebooks. We need to develop study skills and strategies to complete the task effectively. In previous posts, I discussed the SQ3R Reading Method, the Feynman Technique, and the PQ4R Method. Today, I want to share another effective strategy for achieving learning success: Mind Mapping. 

A mind map is a visual representation of information and ideas. The central concept or most important idea is placed at the center of a blank page, with associated concepts, including words and images, added around the main idea. We connect the major ideas directly to the central concept, and other associated concepts or ideas can branch out from there. These visual diagrams are a type of spider diagram, which some of us may have created back in middle school. 

A mind map can be drawn by hand or by using mind-mapping software. Some students like to create them as a form of note-taking during a class seminar, while others use them to keep notes while reading a textbook or other course materials. When used in this way, mind mapping can improve reading comprehension by working with our mind’s natural organizational structure. A mind map converts the new information we are learning into a memorable and organized diagram that works with the brain’s radiant thinking. In fact, a study of nursing students found that those who used mind maps increased their grades by 12% (Boley, 2008). That’s the equivalent of a full letter grade! 

While mind maps can be useful for all students, they have been found to be particularly helpful for students with dyslexia and autism, aiding them in better understanding concepts and strategies that were previously difficult. According to the British Dyslexia Association, “Dyslexics struggle with their spoken and/or written language, following instructions, poor concentration, and carrying out analytical or logical tasks. Strategies such as Mind Mapping are recognized as valuable learning tools.” (MindMapping, 2024). At the time when many of today’s adult learners were in high school, strategies like these may not have been promoted to students with neurodiversities. Today, students do not need to struggle in silence. Instead, we can leverage research that has led to the adoption and promotion of learning strategies, such as mind maps. 

To get started with a mind map to help you study, begin with a blank sheet of paper. Write the study topic or central concept in the center of the page. Connect that topic with a main idea from your reading, seminar, or notes. Then, connect sub-branches to the main branch to show the association of ideas. Your mind map might fill the page with information and ideas radiating out from that main study topic, or you might create a more basic map to focus solely on a few key ideas you want to learn. Other strategies might include using different colors to connect ideas and further illustrate the connections between them, or writing in different sizes to demonstrate the larger ideas at the center of smaller, associated concepts. Experiment! Play! Create mind maps that help you learn, study, and improve your academic success, and use the comment space below to let us know how it goes. 

Until next time, this is Dr. Linscott with another Learning for Success podcast. Happy Learning! 

References: 

Boley, D.A. (2008). Use of premade mind maps to enhance simulation learning. Nurse Education, 33(5):220-3. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NNE.0000312223.97955.4c

MindMapping (2025). What is a mind map? https://www.mindmapping.com/mind-map