Using Mindomo for Problem Solving
dealing with
problem solving difficulties
no striking ideas
develop "opposites" to existing ideas
use creativity techniques
having no aim
aim for practical results
develop further aims
ask for higher motives
"What is it you REALLY want to achieve?"
collect aims
no proper problem analysis
analyse your problem top-down
examine chains of causes
find out root causes
ask "why" 5 times
lack of knowledge
search the internet
include links to relevant material inyour map
lack of motivation
start your work with a glance at these branches
include motivational material into your central map
images of something youwant to achieve
images of peopleyou admire
quotes
"How to eat an elephant?"- "One bite at a time."
tools for
problem solving
how to use tools
tools in form of recipes
IDEAL strategy
Source:
Bransford/Stein: The IDEAL Problem Solver
"Look back and Learn"
"Assess and Act
"Explore possible strategies"
"Define alternative goals"
"Identify problems and opportunities"
work through steps
tools in form of questions
"What's the cause of this?"
"How can this be done?"
answer directly
how to present tools
in a map template
questions on branches work as tools
answer them directly on child branches
in separate branches
in a separate map
"tool map"
how to arrange tools
by topics
tools for asssessing things
SWOT analysis
threats
opportunities
weaknesses
strengths
tools for political analysis
tools for business planning
by obstacles
confusion
getting stuck
lack of information
no direction
by tool groups
tools for presenting ideas
tools for analysis
tools for creativity
synectics
force fit
analogies
SCAMPER
Osborn's checklist
brainstorm
basic ideas
what is a problem solving tool?
examples
sleep over it
ask a colleague
look for information on the internet
look for analogies in nature
ask questions
definition - naive yet useful:anything that helps to solve a problem
practises for
problem solving
use export to an rtf file...
... to create a report from your mind map
use task infos...
... to carry out plans from your problem solution
use hyperlinks...
... to other maps
... to other branches in your map
for crossreferences
for internet research
use links...
... for reference
use pictures...
... to highlight topics
... as eyepleasers
use boundaries...
... to please the eye
.. to highlight topics
use textnotes...
... for footnotes
... branch text as headline, text notes for details
... for more detailed explanations
use a central master map...
... use ideas from David Allen's "Getting Things Done" for organizing your central map
... use an "ARCHIVE" branch
... to store material away
... for easy navigation between maps
... for organizing all your maps
mind mappingsoftware:optimal support for human thinking
comparison with pen & paper mind mapping
disadvantagesof pen & paper mapping
virtual collaboration difficult
less accepted by many work communities
difficult distribution
e.g. by email
untidy maps
messy handwriting
no hyperlinks etc.
practically no text notes
awkward layout
limited paper size
what other softwarecan do the same?
other useful software for"Computer Aided Problem Solving"
idea generation software
concept mapping software
argument mapping software
Mind Mapping Softwarearguably FAR better for the job
compare it with...
...
Powerpoint
Excel
Word
mind mapping softwarehelps you...
... to work seamlessly - from problem analysis to planning and carrying out your plan
... to use problem solving tools
here are the details
providing analysis methods
providing creativity methods
providing problem solving heuristics
... to navigate easilythrough large amounts of information
... to provide information
... with links to web resources
... inside a map
... to collaborate with others on a problem solution
... to combine text and images ...
... and using your brain's capacitiesfor verbal and visual thinking
... to highlight the most important ideas
... to change between overview and details
by using textnotes for details
by folding / unfolding branches
... to create "idea paths"
showing alternatives
showing chains of reasoning
... to organize ideas...
... into chains
... into hierarchical structures
... into clusters
... to collect ideas
Computer Aided Problem Solving:
let your computer help you think...
it's high time!
progress in the area of computer aided problem solvingis ridiculous, given the importance of the topic
computers already help us...
play
communicate
present
calculate
write
problem solving matters - like nothing else
... and some more
creating art
doing science
dealing with climate change
fighting diseases
ending wars
fighting poverty
