iCanStudy GRINDE Maps vs Buzan Mindmaps
General examples of a GRINDE Map and a Buzan Map drawn in Ahmni: Infinite Canvas.
Mindmapping might be the key to acing your next test — but what exactly is a mindmap? We’ll take a look at two popular mindmaps: the original Buzan Mindmap from Tony Buzan and the newer GRINDE Map from Justin Sung.
GRINDE Map
GRINDE Maps were made by popular by Justin Sung’s YouTube video The Perfect Mindmap. Sung provides 6 guidelines for learning with mindmaps, tying each guideline to principles of cognitive science:
Grouped
Reflective
Interconnected
Non-verbal
Directional
Emphasized
Buzan Mindmaps
Buzan Mindmaps were introduced and refined by Tony Buzan. A definitive guide exists in book form: Mind Map Mastery. Buzan originally developed the mindmap as tool for memorization. According to Mind Map Mastery the mindmap has grown to include creative activities, more enjoyable note taking, and infinite applications. Buzan provides 10 laws of mindmapping:
Use a blank landscape paper
Create a central subject
Use images and symbols
Capitalize keywords
One branch per keyword
Taper outward
Balance branch length
Use color
Stylize arrows
Clarify with blank space
A Historical Perspective
Justin Sung’s GRINDE Maps have the advantage of being newer. Practically this means that Sung had more research in Cognitive Science and Education Psychology to pull from when inventing GRINDE Maps. This is clear in the way Sung cites modern research on chunking, metacognition, and higher-order learning.
The history of Buzan Maps as told in Buzan’s Mind Map Mastery makes it clear that Buzan Mindmaps were not necessarily developed from the research as they predated most relevant studies that Sung was inspired by. However, Buzan argues that later research confirmed their efficacy.
To make it more confusing, mindmapping as discussed in academic literature could mean various things. In Sung’s mindmapping video, the first two papers he cites about mindmapping are using Buzan-style mindmapping. Furthermore, a search for “concept mapping” in academia brings up an entirely different style of spatial mapping, seen below.
An example of Concept Mapping from an academic paper (Kane, 2007).
The Differences - An Opinion
The underlying difference between GRINDE Maps and Buzan Maps are that GRINDE Maps are singularly focused on optimizing learning. Buzan Maps attempt to have wider applicability — from memorization to creativity.
Grouping with chunks: One place this is apparent is in GRINDE Maps emphasis on Grouping. A GRINDE Map will have chunks of information all over the place, connected in different ways, whereas Buzan Maps will generally focus on hierarchical organization. Practically this means Buzan Mindmaps can be harder to use for non-hierarchical knowledge, whereas GRINDE Maps flexibly fit to any type of conceptual knowledge.
Evaluating with directionality: GRINDE Maps should have a clear directional flow that reflects the learner’s understanding of cause and effect and major processes within the topic. This is a form of “evaluative” processing that instigates Higher-Order Learning. The flow in Buzan Maps always radiates outwards, taking away some of the opportunity for evaluative processing.
Visuals as aid: Buzan mindmaps use visuals as both enjoyable art and memory aid. GRINDE Maps take a more learning-centric approach, and treat visuals primarily as a way of forcing the user to paraphrase and consolidate large amounts of information and connect it to existing knowledge (called “elaboration” in the education literature). In fact, the “N” in GRINDE stands for non-verbal — encouraging any type of paraphrasing and consolidation of verbal information, not just visuals.
Size: GRINDE Maps tend to scale better to large topics. The nature of Grouped, Interconnected chunks freely spaced around the canvas allows for the creation of huge mindmaps. On the other hand, the hierarchical nature of Buzan mindmaps, and the strict adherence to tapered branches with keywords tends to make it hard to expand past a few layers.
Which is Better for Learning?
For learning, GRINDE Maps are hard to beat. Buzan Maps are fun and can be a great memory aid but don’t scale as well and don’t emphasize fundamental higher-order learning processes enough.
However, mindmapping isn’t easy, and mindmapping isn’t enough on its own:
1) Like any skill, mindmapping takes time to develop, and requires feedback for direction correction.
2) Good studying involves actively testing and revising knowledge, self-regulating focus, and coming to a deep understanding of the material. Mindmapping will help, but can’t do everything.
Want to mindmap, schedule revision, and self-regulate focus?
Check out Ahmni: Infinite Canvas.