MIND MAPPING:

CRITICAL THINKING
AND PROBLEM
SOLVING
Mind Map

A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas

and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps
structuring information, helping you to better
analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and
generate new ideas.
 Information
is structured in a way that resembles
much more closely how your brain actually works.
 It is an activity that is both analytical and artistic.
Benefits and Uses

mind mapping avoids dull

linear thinking
jogging your creativity
making note taking fun again.
We use mind maps for:
 Note taking
 Brainstorming
 Problem solving
 Studying and memorization
 Planning
 Researching
 consolidating information from multiple sources
 Presenting information
 Gaining insight on complex subjects
 Jogging your creativity
How to Draw a Mind Map

 Start in the middle of a blank page, writing or drawing

the idea you intend to develop.
 Develop the related subtopics around this central
topic, connecting each of them to the center with a
line.
 Repeat the same process for the subtopics,
generating lower-level subtopics as you see fit,
connecting each of those to the corresponding
subtopic.
Recommendations:

 Use colors, drawings and symbols

copiously.
 Be as visual as you can.
 Keep the topics labels as short as
possible.
 Provide as many visual cues as you can
to emphasize important points.
Critical Thinking
-is the ability to think clearly and
rationally about what to do or what
to believe. It includes the ability to
engage in reflective and
independent thinking.
Someone with critical thinking skills is
able to do the following:

 understand the logical connections between ideas,

identify, construct and evaluate arguments
 detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in
reasoning
 solve problems systematically
 identify the relevance and importance of ideas
 reflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and
values
 The importance of critical
thinking
 Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill.
 Critical thinking is very important in the new
knowledge economy.
 Critical thinking enhances language and presentation
skills.
 Critical thinking promotes creativity.
 Critical thinking is crucial for self-reflection.
 Good critical thinking is the foundation of science
and democracy.
Top Five Critical Thinking
Skills
1. Analytical
-Part of critical thinking is the ability to carefully examine
something, whether it is a problem, a set of data, or a text.
2. Communication
-Often, you will need to share your conclusions with your
employers or with a group of colleagues. You need to be able
to communicate with others to share your ideas effectively.
3. Creativity
-thinking often involves some level of creativity. You might
need to spot patterns in the information you are looking at or
come up with a solution that no one else has thought of before.
4. Open-Minded
-To think critically, you need to be able to put aside any
assumptions or judgments and merely analyze the information
you receive. You need to be objective, evaluating ideas
without bias.
5. Problem Solving
-Problem solving is another crucial critical thinking skill that
involves analyzing a problem, generating and implementing
a solution, and assessing the success of the plan.
The importance of critical
thinking
 The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to
do.
 Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy.
 Good critical thinking promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in
the fast-changing workplace.
 Critical thinking promotes creativity.
 Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the
best ones and modifying them if necessary.
 Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation.
 Good critical thinking is the foundation of science and democracy.
Why is problem solving
important?
 Problem solving is a key skill which can help you
succeed.
 Problems or obstacles occur all the time, and it is
important that you can provide quick and
imaginative solutions to them.
 Being able to problem solve is one of the major
attributes looked for by universities and employers, as
it displays both logical and creative thinking.
What do Mind Maps have to
do with it?
 can help to bypass the usual panic instinct
of the brain when confronted with a
problem to solve.
 Mind Mapping opens up possibilities and
calms you.
 When you Mind Map for problem solving,
you instantly gain more clarity, so you can
find answers more easily.
What are the benefits of Mind
Maps for problem solving
 Mind Maps prioritize the most important
aspects of your problem, focusing your
mind.
 The use of colors and images stimulate your
brain.
 By using radial thinking, your brain
generates more ideas and associations, for
many solutions.
A step-by-step guide for
problem solving with Mind Maps
 Make two separate Mind Maps, one for the problem
itself, and one for the possible solutions.
Firstly, Mind Map your problem: Make the problem the
central idea of your Mind Map. Add as main branches all
of the aspects and causes of the problem, investigating
further detail with sub-branches. Through exploring the
problem in this way, you should begin to realize why the
problem occurred, and what you can do to improve the
situation.
Second, Mind Map for solutions: Make ‘Solutions’ your
central idea. Add all of the routes through which you
could solve the problem as main branches – include
any colleagues, organizations, techniques or resources
which could help – making sub-branches to explore the
details of these further. By using a Mind Map for
problem solving, you will realize that one obstacle could
potentially have many solutions.
How can Mind Map help with problem
solving? \

 a great way to collate all of your information about the problem, and any
resources that could form a solution.
For example, you can drag and drop any files into your Mind Maps – perhaps a
budget spreadsheet, a video, or Word document – taking the ‘Big Picture’
aspect of Mind Mapping to a whole new level.
 Mind Map also includes focus applications, such as Focus In and Out and
Expand and Collapse Branches which can help to navigate around your
problem and focus your mind.
 Mind Maps make problem solving a breeze