Finding the right visual mapping software to use is very tricky. There are lots of different mind mapping and visual mapping solutions out there all clambering for your use.

Vic Gee has opened a new site over at his website, that aims to bring all the current visual mapping software out there and put them under one roof. Vic's Picks has it's called, is for anyone can review and rate the visual mapping software that they have used in the past, so that others can make a more informed decision on what's right for them.

Each visual mapping application can be reviewed by anyone and can be rated using a 5 star system. Information on each application includes pricing and features that it includes.

The whole site is broken down in types of software so that people can find the software that suits them. There's hierarchal, non-hierarchal, on-line and free.

Perhaps the list that most visual mapping applications will want to be in is Vic's Faves. This is a list of Vic's favourite visual  mapping software and currently includes all the well known visual mapping titles from the last few years with the exception of iMindMap. Not a fan Vic?

I'd like to see more screenshots for each entry so that the features of the software can be seen in better detail and context. Visual mapping is of course all about visualisation, and to only have 1 screenshot of the application can impact you're assessment on which application is right for you.

This should be your starting point if you're looking for new mind mapping software but don't want to go on the software vendor's marketing alone. Marketing is all about selling the product so it's good to see that all the mind mapping software available is now under one place to be reviewed and rated by their users.

When I was in secondary and further education, I would often struggle with organising my studying schedule. Getting the right information out from resources such as lectures and books involved a lot of reading, note-taking and of course mind mapping. It wasn't the perfect method, but it worked. The downside of it was that I was constantly reviewing my notes and not doing much else.

For students today though, there's now an easier and more efficient method of studying that involves visual mapping.

Concise Learning is a new study method that aims to help students excel using a study process that centres around visual mapping. The book's author, Tony Krasnic, has developed the method from years of experience as a professor and as a student coach.

The method itself consists of 5 phases with each phase consisting of 4 steps. The steps in each phase are the same, so with each change of phase you become more and more familiar with the steps involved.

Using this method you build up your knowledge using an iterative process that forces you to continual review and question the relevant information you have and use it in practical examples.

By using visual mapping, you're embracing an active and cognitive process that is a far more interesting and beneficial method than the constant memorization that previous methods relied on.

The book itself is packed with useful resources including a chapter on visual maps that describes what they are and how to create them, as well as a chapter on common skills that Tony Krasnic has identified in successful students which he has termed "Skills of Success". These skills are even included as visual maps in the appendix of the book. Additional relevant visual maps created Adam Sicinski of IQ Matrix have also been included.

If you're a student then you'll know we're at the start of a new term. This is the ideal time to start looking at how you're going to study for the topic you have chosen.

The thing about education though is that it's more than simply remembering the important facts. Unless you can apply the knowledge you have gained in practical exercises and continual review your knowledge, you won't have gained the full benefit of studying your selected topic.

I highly recommend this book for students or parent of students who are seeking to get the most from their education. It's a short read but provides plenty of value with a structured study guide that students will benefit from 

Disclaimer: As a mind mapper I think it's important to give you the full benefit of tools that will help you mind map. Sometimes I get an offer to review a book. However, don't be under any impression that this means that I'll give a good review. If I think a book is bad, I'll let you know. If it's good or better, I'll definitely let you know.

Since I stopped regular posting to here a few months ago, I've been getting emails and comments on the usefulness of the site.

The blog as it stands is still useful as it can be searched by people and the information is easy to find. At the moment though this is still a blog, but it would be nice if the information on here was re-organised into a guide on how to mind map. Therefor I'm going to re-organise the posts here are MindMapSwitch into a guide a guide that I hope people will find easier to use.

This may take a few months to complete, but at the end I'm hoping that I'll have more of an information portal on mind mapping.

Well this is it. The final post for MindMapSwitch. As of next week MindMapSwitch is closing its doors.

When I first started out 2 years ago, I wanted to initially just write a blog on mind mapping and see what happened. During the last 2 years there has been a consistent stream of articles on mind mapping published here and I've enjoyed every minute of it. However, there's only so much 1 person can say on a subject, and while I've had fun doing it, I think it's time that I closed the door on MindMapSwitch.

I haven't decided what to do with the content of MindMapSwitch yet, so feel free to archive any articles you liked. Perhaps someone else can find a good home for some of the more popular articles here.

Before I go, I want to say a big thank you to everyone in the mind mapping community for making this a fun experience. It's been an awesome ride, but all good things must come to an end.

Update: Well not quite the final post. I will occasionally keep this blog updated with new resources on mind mapping in the future, but the weekly post is out for the meantime.

I'm hoping to deliver two projects by the end of the week. It makes for a good focus for the week and a nice central theme for my weekly capture mind map.

It's only a short week this week due to the UK holiday yesterday. It couldn't have worked out better for this weeks capture mind map. Hope you all like it!

Well this is it. 100 posts.

Since I started this blog in the summer of 2008, I've covered lots of different tips and techniques in mind mapping as well as different post types. There's also been a couple of design changes and a few little Twitter experiments along the way.

Now though, I'm faced with the question that probably faces a lot of bloggers. What next?

I've got a few options here:

1. Continue blogging as previously, except with more of a slant towards my own mind maps and perhaps 1 or 2 articles a month on mind mapping.
2. Stop blogging at MindMapSwitch and arrange the content into a form of media suitable for downloading for all you readers.
3. Or something else?

This has been at the back of my mind for the last few weeks as to whether to continue this blog.

The blog was originally created as a place for mind mappers where tips and techniques on mind mapping was readily available and I posted a new article every week for the last 2 years and now I feel that my input into the blog hasn't been as active as in the past. My fault?

Well yes, with my focus on other more important priorities in my life, MindMapSwitch has fallen by the wayside. I love mind mapping and I love writing the articles here for others to read, but I'm starting to find that time is becoming more and more scarce.

I'm throwing the comments open for this one. I would love to hear your thoughts on MindMapSwitch and you're suggestions for the future. After all, MindMapSwitch was created for you, so it's only fair that I hear your suggestions, ideas and comments before I decide what to do.

A nice reminder that my sister and niece are flying over from Dublin at then end of the week. It's good to have a positive focus to the end of the week.

You might remember at the start of the year, I showed you how to use a mind map to set your single achievable goal for 2010. Well now that it's April, I thought it might be a good idea to review my own progress in the pursuit of my goal for 2010.

Well after a couple of good months in which I eventually hit my milestones for January and February, I was on my first steps to achieving my goal for 2010.

Come March, I hit a brick wall, and never actually achieved the milestone I set for this month. Not to be down trodden though I pushed on through to April where I have achieved my milestone for this month earlier than I had expected.

With all the scribbles and notes I have made on my 2010 mind map, I am going to go back and redo again without all the scribbles. This should give me time to review on my previous milestone wins and prepare myself for the next 4 months ahead.

The great thing about mind mapping my goal for 2010 is that I have one portable mind map that goes with me everywhere I go and I can quickly add any ideas or thoughts to my mind map while I am on the move!

Pretty appropriate central topic for this week's capture mind map. A nice reminder though that mind maps provide a better picture when viewed from above.