Friday, September 30, 2011

Mind Map - Update

Just a quick update regarding the mind mapping online software I posted about a few days back. I started thinking more about how I wanted to lay out information in order to better grasp it and the thought of examples came to mind. Why not screen shots?

Cacoo.com, although slightly more difficult to input information into it has the great ability to import images from the web, your local machine, or can even take a screen shot. This feature makes me almost completely forget the less intuitive method of input. The input method is essentially, click & drag a shape, select the color properties, color the shape, type text, click the link icon, etc. Unfortunately, bubble.us, which has a very intuitive input method, has no feature for image input. Looks, like I'll be using Cacoo more.



Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Mind Mapping

I've been looking at memory aids recently. I find I'm at the point where I grasp all the concepts and can lab the CCNA stuff till I'm blue in the face, but still need to memorize all the exam details. This is things like the range of area numbers and other things I've read a few times, but not completely committed to memory. Incidentally, that available area range is 0 to 4.2 billion.

So, I've been playing with the loci method (memory palace), mind maps, and have long been a fan of association techniques. below is an example of an online mind map and how I think Ill use it with my studies. It's called bubble.us. An interesting site that gives 3 free worksheets and then paid membership for more. I like the interface and keyboard mapped interactions. The caveat is that its flash 10 and therefore not Ipad compatible. With flash cards along and a mind map like this I'm hoping to better memorize the details of the exam.



Cacoo (link) is another service but slightly more elaborate, allow for the creation of many more types of diagrams and charts. Below is an example of their mind map. The issue I see with Cacoo is that it takes a lot more effort and time to create a diagram and this doesn't serve taking notes.




















www.mind-mapping.org has some great sites and software recommendations, where these both came from. If you think mind mapping the protocols, commands, and anything else might help. Give them a shot to see if there is some software that can help  you in your exam sucess.