4. The Advantages of Mind Mapping Technique
Mind mapping technique has several advantages. According to Murley, the arrangement of information in a mind map makes the relation of each information
easier to see.
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It is because the construction of mind map is always started from the middle. So, the relation of each ideas can be easily tracked by following the
branch to the middle or out from the middle —main idea. Most students like
making a mind map, because it is fun.
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Moreover, Hofland said that making mind map saves time especially when the students have mastered the technique.
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Buzan, on his book, stated that mind mapping has a number of advantages compared to the linear form of written text which are explained as follow:
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a. The main idea is more clearly defined as it is presented in the center of the page using a picture or symbol.
b. The importance of each idea is clearly seen, because the branches of ideas which are closer to the main idea or to the center make them more important
than other branches which is put far from the main idea. c. The form of a tree branches makes it easier to recognize the connection of
each ideas. This is because each branches only has one word as a keyword to represent an idea.
d. Recalling and reviewing the information will be both more effective and more rapid as there are only keywords that lead to particular information. To see a
keyword will save more time than reading one long complete sentence. e. The nature of the structure makes it easier to add some new information
without ruining the structure of the mind map and or other information. The starting point which is at the middle leaves lots of space to possibly add other
ideas.
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Diane Murley, Mind Mapping Complex Information, Law Library Journal vol. 991, 2007, p. 176.
75
Hofland, op. cit., p. 30.
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Ibid.
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Buzan, op. cit., pp. 91 — 92.
f. A mind map made will be special for the maker as an aid recall. What make it special is because it will look and be different one to another. So, a mind map
which is made by other people may not effectively be used by other people. g. The open-ended nature of the map will enable the brain to make new
connections far more easily in the more creative note making, such as essay preparations.
5. The Disadvantages of Mind Mapping Technique
In a mind map, the connections constructed are limited to simple association.
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Aside from the advantages mentioned by Buzan, other researcher finds that there are also some disadvantages of mind mapping technique. As
Hofland Said, here are the disadvantages:
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a. It can be a bit awkward to make a mind mapping when students first start using the technique. This is because the students are not really understand
about the mind map and what it is for. It is possible for the students to think that the teacher is just trying to entertain them by drawing funny structure on
the whiteboard. b. Mind mapping is time-consuming in the beginning, because the students need
time to fully understand about constructing a mind map. So, to make a mind map may takes time at first until they master how to make it.
c. Mind mapping is very personal because it uses association. The mind map made by someone is the best mind map and it will not work at all for
someone else, because the creative making of it that makes it works so well. d. Mind mapping technique is not yet used a lot in school although the
technique is not new. So, to get some students using it is kind of difficult as they do not familiar with the technique.
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Davies, op. cit., p. 4.
79
Hofland, op. cit., p. 31.
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