How To Make a Mind Map in OneNote

Mind maps are helpful diagrams that are used to organize ideas. They are often seen in classroom settings or company meetings where ideas, concepts, or processes are shared. It’s a great idea to accommodate visual learners with these tools.

OneNote, a digital notebook from Microsoft, has tools to help you create these mind maps. If you haven’t tried adding them to your notebooks in OneNote, mind maps are excellent additions to help you understand ideas better.

As a digital notebook, your OneNote notebooks aim to help you digest information better. So, if you want to create mind maps in OneNote, read this article. It’ll provide ways to make mind maps in OneNote and tips for improvement.

How To Make a Mind Map in OneNote

In most Microsoft apps, the SmartArt function is available. However, that function isn’t accessible in OneNote. But don’t worry. In this section, you’ll learn how to use OneNote’s features to create mind maps from scratch.

There are two ways to do this: using shapes and lines or drawing your mind map through the freehand function. Take note of these two ways, as they’ll serve as your starting points while exploring the app’s visual notetaking functions.

Method 1: Using Shapes and Lines for a Basic Mind Map

Step 1

Open OneNote and start a new page. Go to the Draw tab and select Shapes to add a central shape for your main idea.

Step 2

Click inside the shape and type your main topic. Then, use Text tools to adjust font size and color for emphasis.

Step 3

Add branches by inserting lines from the Draw tab. Connect these lines to smaller shapes for subtopics, arranging them around the central idea.

Step 4

Select each shape or line to access the Shape Format menu. Customize the mind map by changing shape colors and line styles.

Step 5

Type your subtopics in each shape. Repeat to add more branches and subtopics as needed.

Method 2: Drawing a Freehand Mind Map

Although drawing to make a mind map in OneNote is less accurate in laptops or computers without drawing pens, it’s a great way to not feel limited by the preset shapes and sizes in the previous method.

Still, you can follow the general principles in creating a mind map here; see the steps below:

Step 1

Go to the Draw tab and select the Pen or Marker to sketch your mind map directly.

Step 2

Drawing a circle or central shape. Then, label it with your main topic using the Text tool.

Tip: You can change the color of the pen or marker with the Ink Color option.

Step 3

Draw branches from the center and label each with subtopics. Keep them organized around the central idea.

Step 4

Add details by drawing smaller branches or circles connected to each subtopic. This adds depth to your mind map.

How To Make a Better Mind Map in Edraw.AI

If you’re looking for a better way to create mind maps, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll explore Edraw.AI, an alternative tool to create beautiful mind maps. After all, using a dedicated diagram maker is better than relying on side functions (like the mind map function in OneNote).

Edraw.AI is a web-based, digital diagramming platform that provides users with creative and functional tools to create effective mind maps. With over 40 AI tools, Edraw.AI helps you build more informative mind maps than ever.

Edraw.AI allows you to generate diagrams either from templates or starting from scratch.

Method 1: Create a Mind Map From Scratch

Edraw.AI provides comprehensive features to help you make mind maps from scratch. While it’s an AI-focused tool, it still believes in the power of human creativity. Curious about how? Follow the steps below:

Step 1

On the homepage, click +New.

Step 2

Then, go to Mind Map > New Mind Map.

Step 3

Begin by double-clicking any node and adding text. Use the side panel or floating toolbar to customize text fonts/styles/sizes.

Step 4

Click a node and press Sub Topic to add branches to your mind map. Hit Delete on your keyboard to remove nodes.

Step 5

After selecting an element, customize your mind map with the floating toolbar or the Style tab. Use the Canvas panel to edit the mind map.

Method 2: Use a Mind Map Template

Another method to make mind maps in Edraw.AI is from templates. With hundreds of mind map templates, you’re sure to find something that will inspire you or give you a jumpstart. To access templates, do the steps below:

Step 1

From the homepage, go to Templates. Then, type “mind map” into the search bar.

Step 2

Select a template that fits your needs.

Step 3

When this window appears, click Create with template.

Step 4

Re-do steps 3-5 of the previous methods to edit your mind map once the template loads.

Tips for Making Mind Maps in OneNote

After learning how to make a mind map in OneNote and Edraw.AI, you might still feel lost. Hence, here are some tips that you can follow. These tips are meant to take you a step further from the instructions you’ve followed earlier in this article.

• Use the tablet version with a stylus. If you’re using OneNote on a tablet like an iPad, try using a stylus like the Apple Pencil. This setup makes it easier to draw freehand mind maps and create natural connections between ideas.
• Organize with colors & shapes. Use colors to group related ideas and different shapes to distinguish main ideas from subtopics. Select different shape and color options in the Draw tab to organize your map visually.
• Add tags for important points. OneNote’s tagging feature allows you to mark key ideas. Select Tags in the Home tab to add symbols like stars or checkboxes to highlight crucial points.
• Utilize OneNote’s page templates. Set a grid background by right-clicking the page and choosing Grid Lines under Page Templates. This helps you align your branches and keeps your mind map organized.
• Expand as you go. Start with basic ideas, then gradually add details and branches. OneNote’s flexible structure allows you to update and expand your mind map as new ideas arise.

Conclusion

To summarize, both ways to create mind maps in OneNote require manual diagramming from scratch.

Luckily, Edraw.AI serves as a great option to make effective and delicate mind maps. Its feature-rich tools can help you create mind maps that feel personal, creative, and informative – all at the same time. A great thing about this is that you can export your work as images to OneNote.

Whether through OneNote or Edraw.AI, maximize each tool’s creative capabilities for an amazing visualization experience.