Welcome to MindManager

Professional Development Workshop

How to Use MindManager

Focus: Creating, Using and Exporting Maps

Introduction

MindManager is software that creates interactive visual maps to capture, organize, share and communicate ideas and information effectively. Information presented in map form is easier to organize, understand, and recall.

Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants should be able to Understand maps and mapping. Understanding the MindManager Interface Understand the building blocks used to build maps in

MindManager Creating maps and exporting them to Microsoft Office

programs Inserting Items to maps Brainstorming using the MindManager Advantages of using MindManager as students and as

teachers or faculty.

Maps Created in the MindManager helps You to:

Brainstorm and capture ideas Present complex information Visualize and communicate complex ideas, the map below gives an example of visual and complex information.

MindManager can be used in:

Education: students Faculty

Administrators Business: Project planning and delivery Collaboration and innovation

Process Improvement

Strategic planning

Government Non-Governmental organization Personal Productivity

Definition of a Map

A map is a visual representation of information and ideas. The main idea or title is at the center of the map, with supporting ideas branching off of it in a radiating, hierarchical fashion. Each idea is called a topic. Map topics begin at the 1 o’clock position, and are read clockwise. Below is an example of a map drawn using MindManager.

The MindManager Interface

The MindManager interface provides a window where all maps are created and edited. Below is a picture of the interface;

Building Blocks used by MindManager to create Maps

Maps are made of the basic topics and objects below all located on the MindManager Interface. The map below is created from scratch using the building blocks (basic topics and objects)

Central topic Subtopic Floating topic Callout Boundary Relationship

Creating a New Map from Scratch Step by Step

Do the following: On the Quick Access Toolbar, click New. Click the MindManager Button, point to New, then click Default Map. MindManager opens a new map based on the New Blank Map template.

Each new blank map begins with a central topic, or title. To begin, click on the central topic and enter the theme of your map. Then, go on to add main topics and subtopics.

Add Topics and Subtopics You can add topics and subtopics using the keyboard, or by clicking

commands on the Ribbon. Select a topic, then: to add topic press enter on the keyboard or click on topic on the Ribbon. To add subtopics press Insert or Ctrl+Enter on the keyboard or click on subtopic on the Ribbon.

Adding Floating topics and Callouts

Floating topics are not attached to other map topics and can be freely positioned anywhere on the map. You can add floating topics spontaneously and then attach them to the map later.

Click anywhere on the map background and begin typing

You can attach subtopics to a floating topic, and you can drag it onto another topic at any time to attach it. The diagram below shows a floating topic in orange.

Callout topics can be used for comments or to provide additional information for a specific topic. They can also be used to label relationship lines and provide a summary topic for boundaries. Below is how you add a callout;

1. Select the parent topic or a relationship line or boundary.

2. On the Home tab or on the Insert tab, click Callout. The diagram below shows a callout in orange.

Adding Boundaries

MindManager offers two types of boundaries: grouping boundaries and summary boundaries.

1. Select the topic whose subtopics you want to group with the boundary. 2. On the Home tab or on the Insert tab, click Boundary, and then click the boundary

type. Below is a diagram showing boundaries in doted orange.

Insert or add Spreadsheets You can add a spreadsheet with basic functionality to a topic. The spreadsheet feature uses

commands found in most spreadsheet applications. 1. Select a topic, then click Spreadsheet on the Insert tab. 2. Double-click on the blank spreadsheet to start the edit mode and enter your data. To view the

data as a chart, right-click the topic’s spreadsheet icon and click Chart View.

Adding Relationships Sometimes a relationship exists between two topics, and you want to illustrate this on your map.

You can add a relationship line that connects two topics, and label it if you wish. 1. On the Home tab or on the Insert tab, click Relationship. 2. The cursor changes to the relationship cursor . 3. Click the first topic, and then click the second. 4. The relationship line links the two topics.

Below is a Map drawn in MindManager showing some of the above discussed items e.g. relationship, callout, boundary, spreadsheet etc.

Exporting Maps

Maps drawn in MindManager can be exported to Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.

Maps can also be exported as; Image files or PDF files.

For more details consult the handbook

Advantages of using MindManager in Schools

For students MindManager helps to:

• Take notes • Brainstorm and capture ideas • Conduct research • Write papers and construct

presentations • Participate in team projects • Make career decisions

For teachers MindManager helps you to :

• Engage and excite your students

• Develop course presentations and lectures faster

• Be more effective producing research and preparing results

• Utilize a powerful alternative for conveying complex information

• Collaborate effectively with colleagues, students and the administration

Summary

MindManager has a lot of advantages when used properly by both students and teachers. It helps them to visualize and communicate complex ideas and information as has been discussed in this workshop.