Your Guide to MindView Mind Mapping for Organisation and Planning

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MindView is a versatile mind-mapping tool that empowers students to organise ideas, plan projects, and manage their studies effectively. Designed with accessibility in mind, it’s particularly useful for students with neurodiversity needs, helping to overcome barriers in organisation, memory, and processing.

What is MindView?

MindView is a mind-mapping software that allows students to:

  • Organise and structure essays, research, and projects visually.
  • Develop revision plans and study materials.
  • Create professional-quality presentations directly from mind maps.
  • Plan and manage large projects with integrated timelines and Gantt charts.

MindView integrates with Microsoft Office, making it easy to convert mind maps into Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, or Excel spreadsheets. Learn more on the MindView website.

Features of MindView

Visual Mind Mapping

  • What it does: Create visual representations of your ideas, linking thoughts and concepts with branches and nodes.
  • How it helps: Great for brainstorming and breaking down complex topics into manageable chunks.

Essay Structuring

  • What it does: Use templates to structure essays with introduction, body, and conclusion sections.
  • How it helps: Ensures logical flow and organisation of arguments, making essay writing more efficient.

Research Organisation

  • What it does: Attach notes, files, and links to branches to consolidate research in one place.
  • How it helps: Saves time switching between multiple apps and keeps sources organized.

Revision Planning

  • What it does: Create study schedules and plans with mind maps or timelines.
  • How it helps: Break down revision topics into smaller tasks for better focus and retention.

Presentations

  • What it does: Convert mind maps directly into PowerPoint slides or PDF handouts.
  • How it helps: Speeds up the process of creating structured, professional presentations.

Project Management

  • What it does: Use Gantt charts and task lists to plan and track project progress.
  • How it helps: Keeps you on track with deadlines and visualizes dependencies between tasks.

Referencing Tools

  • What it does: Export bibliographies and references directly from your research branches.
  • How it helps: Reduces the time and errors involved in manually creating references.

How MindView Supports Neurodiversity

MindView is tailored to overcome common barriers faced by neurodiverse students, such as:

  • Executive Functioning Challenges: Helps break tasks into manageable steps and visualise deadlines.
  • Memory and Processing: Centralises notes, research, and plans in an easy-to-navigate format.
  • Visual Learning Preferences: Converts text-heavy tasks into visual mind maps that are easier to understand.

How to Access MindView at QUB

MindView is provided as licensed software for all students at QUB and is available on campus at the Student Computing Centres and remotely through the Queens Student Desktop. Staff can request access to the licensed software through IT services.

Watch the demo video:

Using MindView: Getting Started

Creating a Mind Map for Essay Structuring

  1. Open MindView and select the “Essay Template.”
  2. Create branches for the introduction, main arguments, and conclusion.
  3. Add sub-branches to outline supporting points and evidence.
  4. Export to Word to generate a structured essay draft.

Organising Research

  1. Create a new mind map and label the central branch with your research topic.
  2. Add branches for different themes or sources.
  3. Attach notes, documents, or links to each branch to consolidate your findings.

Developing a Revision Plan

  1. Use the timeline or calendar feature to break down topics by day or week.
  2. Assign tasks to each branch and track progress using checklists.

Planning and Managing Project Work

  1. Use the Gantt chart to plan your project milestones and deadlines.
  2. Assign subtasks and visualize dependencies between them.
  3. Monitor progress with visual updates on the timeline.

Creating Presentations

  1. Develop your presentation outline in a mind map format.
  2. Export the mind map directly to PowerPoint.
  3. Customise your slides with images, animations, and notes.

Free Alternatives to MindView

If you’re looking for alternatives, consider:

  • XMind (Free and Paid Versions): A robust mind-mapping tool with similar features.
  • MindMup (Free and Paid Versions): A web-based tool for quick brainstorming and essay planning.
  • FreeMind (Free): An open-source tool for basic mind mapping and planning.
  • MindNode (Apple): is a user-friendly mind mapping tool for macOS and iOS, offering a simple, intuitive interface to visually organise ideas and tasks.
  • Explore the Online Study Tools Guide for more ideas and assistive technology to support your academic journey.

Additional Resources and Tutorials 

Assistive technology is more than a collection of tools—it’s a way to personalise your learning environment to suit your unique strengths and challenges. By leveraging free AT resources, students can gain confidence, improve their academic performance, and unlock their full potential.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to embrace a mindset of exploration and adaptability. Your learning journey is as unique as you are, and the right tools can make all the difference.

Finally, I’d love to hear from you! What tools have worked best for you, and how have they improved your academic experience? Share your favourite apps, software, or strategies to help others in the neurodiverse community discover new possibilities.

Support and Training 

  • IT Helpdesk: For licensing issues or technical support, reach out to the QUB IT Helpdesk.