As promised, here, finally, is my first post on mind-mapping. According to the book I read (Ultimate Book Of Mind Maps
1. Plan
2. Communicate
3. Be more Creative
4. Save Time
5. Solve Problems
6. Concentrate
7. Organize and Clarify your Thoughts
8. Remember Better
9. Study Faster and more Efficiently
10. See the “Whole Picture”
But how?
“At the same time as you make mental connections in your thoughts you are making physical connections in your brain. You are literally making that incredible brain of yours more complex, more sophisticated, and more powerful with every thought connection. The brain with which you are reading this now is therefore not the same as it was yesterday, and it will not be the same tomorrow!”
Repetition
This is how we learn as human beings. I don’t think that I am alone when I say that I have a lot of difficulty when it comes to being open to learning. Even though I know better, I desperately want to be excellent as something immediately. When I am very very far from being excellent at something, I quickly become discouraged and stop. This is true of my efforts to learn how to play the guitar, to play tennis, and to draw. I try, it doesn’t come easily to me, and so I stop. Even when things do come easier to me (fitness, acting, writing) I am constantly getting frustrated when I can’t do something. This way of thinking is flawed. I really want to drive this home as best I can. According to Tony Buzan, it is incorrect to believe that you get better with ever trial. Instead, he suggests the TEFCAS model, which presents 6 different words that detail how we learn through steps:
Trial – the beginning stages of learning must begin with an attempt at learning. You first have to try!
Event – after you try, something will happen (good or bad)
Feedback – based on what happens at the event, you will receive both emotional and intellectual feedback.
Check – then you will have a moment to reassess whether or not you are any closer to your goal
Adjust – and adjust accordingly based on the data you have now received.
Success – the above will repeat over and over again until you acheive some level of success. That is always the goal after all.
I like this system of thinking about learning, because it makes the learning process seem more manageable. It reminds me that I don’t, and am not expected to be, perfect at something during the first go around. Learning is a process, and the ability to learn is certainly a muscle that can be strengthened with time and practice.
“Persistence is the engine of learning, intelligence, of your creative effort, and of all genius.”
Repetition is so important, because doing something once will not do anything for you. You need to make it into a habit. Then, don’t break the habit!! There is nothing I dislike more than starting over. So don’t quit.
Try this model of learning out for yourself with something in your own life. I have always wanted to be able to do the splits, so I’m going to apply TEFCAS to that. Record your observations, and please SHARE!!!