Collaborative Mind Mapping

Goal of Achievement or GOA:
Developing a simple process that anyone can use who is familiar with 6 Hat Thinking to do group mind mapping.
Simple mapping to start with and build a gradient to increase complexity with simplicity in mind.
Ah, sweet paradox isn't it?

I am in communication with some motivated people (2 women) who are not yet familiar with mind mapping nor the 6 Hats.
How would I start to work with them in this kind of digital canvas?
Working with Luis was an interesting experience that showed me new changeless.
Interestingly when the first SharePoint server based cooperative mapping came out about 4 years ago or so (Version 8 in MindManager) I had a customer (Lady also) who was very motivated to learn it and for about 6 months we did share create many maps together on line. She knew nothing about mapping and by the time we departed, she was as good of a user of MindManager as I was.
I was hoping to pick it up form there with Luis but we actually got bugged down with too many technicalities. The moral of the story is that it is easier to start with someone who knows nothing about mapping than try to synchronize two different styles. Yet, Luis and I did not give up and we are still searching for ways to make use of the collaborative options of group thinking tools.

So, you fellow DBS member, how are you doing with mind mapping? Isn't the Six Hat Thinking is built on creating thinking Maps? If so, where are your maps? How is your skill to work with others mapping out solutions? Since my couple of months participation here, I am only getting one or two mapping related response and only one active participation to do actual map work.
How do you keep your skill sharp if you are not mapping?
Or all of you out there are mapping just not sharing?
Is there a poll here to see the stats on these questions?

Tags: mapping

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Comment by Zsolt Zsofka on May 7, 2012 at 20:09: Synchronicity at work. When you posted these 13 pointers, I was wrapping up a map in which (once again) I am contemplating to start a group. This time on Meetup .com A Think Club of some sort that is working collectively (as well as individually) on real – Funded- problems. These pointers are good reference. Thanks!
BTW: It is remarkable to see how little (actually none that I found thus far) presence there is about Think Clubs. I feel however that we are close to crack the code and unlock the door that is separating people form the “awake” stage. Awake stage I refer to is a state of mind that is not being used to occupy itself with 99%+ same old same old information day in and out. A mind that is not only dealing with stimulus but capable to stimulate.

Comment by Dave Cake on April 17, 2012 at 23:07: Hi Zsolt,
I liked your mind-maps, clear concise. As for Colour I don't have a fixed attitude. If I need to group sections of the map I would use Colour. If I need to highlight a few specific items then I would opt for a plain map and use colour on only those items.

I am going out of circulation for a week or so 9no internet connection, I would be interested in anyone's thoughts on using footnotes when I can get back online.

Comment by Dave Cake on April 17, 2012 at 22:56: Luis wrote - Asa, Please Please Please, Re-invent The Maps.

Comment by Dave Cake on April 17, 2012 at 22:52: Asa made two comments about mind-mapping that struck a chord with me.
1, I tend to read mind-maps very fast. my thoughts on this are as follows:

2. My mind-maps on paper cannot be read by even me.

Comment by Asa Jomard on April 14, 2012 at 16:12: I have tested several free versions-) I try lots of things - once!

My mind maps on paper cannot be read even by myself;-) They are just a way of stopping the flow of thoughts.

I think you should focus on getting David to join your group! He seems to have lots of experience and I will only try to reinvent the mind maps;-)

Comment by Zsolt Zsofka on April 14, 2012 at 15:59

Comment by Asa Jomard on April 14, 2012 at 15:36: But Luis, reinventing the wheel is such fun;-)

I have browsed around at that website before, since it is free test it.

If it is not brilliant, we can reinvent something. I did not want all the hats in the mind maps, but why not;-) In fact,

Comment by Asa Jomard on April 14, 2012 at 14:23: Reflection- that is the sort of things I was thinking about in the mind map. A way to help you check your own understanding and to reflect upon what you have read in the mind map. This could be useful in education.

I tend to read a mind map very fast and then I have no idea what it was all about. . . A pop-up message to stop and reflect and rephrase the words might be helpful.

This might work when you have book review mind map where you every now and then gets a message to add you own ideas etc. It is easy to start doing things and then you forget them because you get "lost in your own thinking", or in reading the mind map.

Comment by Zsolt Zsofka on April 14, 2012 at 13:35: Realization: This is taking place all too often: An idea comes up (Asa’s question) and Black hat (My comment) shoots it down. Dennis comes in with White Hat data and offers a Yellow Hat thoughts.
This is NOT what De Bono thinking is all about, is it?
I should have wear my Green Hat to reply to Asa while Dennis offering is remains along the line to support the idea but still, his green hat would have been even better, yes?
(I am not sure how to integrate the clarifying question by Luis, so for no I kept it out to make my map simpler)

Well, I am a baby when it comes to De Bono thinking, only read one book cover to cover and working on CoRT and my second book, so what do I really know at this time about the de Bono process? Not much. But I do know mind mapping is powerful tool that I use for years now and looking forward to make it a group experience so what is your suggestion?

Comment by Zsolt Zsofka on April 14, 2012 at 13:27: Dave, here is my humble attempt to map the emerging discussion about Asa's question in a mind map. The idea for collaborative mapping is that a discussion like this could take place in a single map, where the IDEA remain in FOCUS, no linear compilation of hundreds and sometime thousands of words blanketing the digital landscape and on the end we have a nice comprehensive map. ---Being here for a few weeks IMHO we are like grade 1-2 in K12 trying to do university level work--- Much work need to be done before we can do this but I am optimistic since we are not kids and once we crack the magic recipe how to organize the people with vision and interest, I think we can do this.
This "simple" map follows the chronological order of the related posts (1-2-3) and grouping the associated thoughts (Asa's three comments). Can yo see how each person could contribute his/her own thoughts, identifying the direction he or she is coming from by the colored hats?