Problem Solving - How your computer can help you think

How can computers support human problem solving?
This astonishing video shows a powerful yet easy approach - make your computer your mentor by using "mentor maps".
All you need is your computer and the free, open source FreeMind software.
You can download it from http://freemind.sourceforge.net.


Here are additional ideas from viewer feedback:

* Using two screens - for mentor map and work map - may be a great idea
* Create a "central mentor map" with links to more specialized mentor maps
* Download Mentor Maps from
http://mappio.com/mindmap/thomasteepe/tool-map-library
* Swap between several mentor maps, using CTRL + Left / Right Arrow
* Use colours to highlight the structure of the work map. You can use the function keys F3, F4, ..., F10 and F1.
* Combining the mentor map approach with interactive whiteboard technology may be a good idea. An inexpensive solution comes here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKCrGvShZs

* You'll find some mentor maps on http://www.mindomo.com/profile/thomasteepe - please comment and add your own ideas!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• problem
• solving
• solution
• thinking
• mind
• map
• mapping
• FreeMind
• software
• heuristic
• strategy
• Mentor
• Mapping
• Thomas
• Teepe
• thomasteepe
• Polya
• creativity
• tools
• work

[cliffallen3]

Great idea to have a separate "tool" mind map. It would be great if someone published a collection of "problem solving tool" mind maps.

[thomasteepe]

Yes!

I've started something in that direction on the (free) online mindmapping site Mindomo, see the link on the right.

I'm most interested in comments and new approaches.

[ibermapping]

Very clear and useful method. Great video.

[cabrevids]

Great process Thomas. l think there are two big tips in your video. Have a set of relevant templates. And that you nearly always need more than one map. The final publishable map should be the "sum" of several maps e.g. a book map is created from maps of characters, plot, environment, readers, publication plan etc.