CCNA study & MindMaps

JohnDouglas

Hi Guys

I've been studying for CCNA this year as it's time I sorted my career out. Been working on an IP planning team for a few years. But no formal qualification.

So, I need to take the exam soon. I've ready the Sybex book - one chapter per week. I understood most of it but I've not exactly internalised it! Now I'm trying to memorise it all. I've recently started making notes on the CCNA Fast Pass book. The thought of going through the main sybex book was a bit daunting. So figured going through the smaller book will give me the core of knowlege I need. The I'll flesh it out with the larger book, the odom books and of course simulator practice & exam question practice.

Anyway, to finally come to the point of this post: I've been creating mindmaps. I'm pretty sure I saw a thread on mind maps and study techniques on this forum somewhere. Perhaps it wasn't in the CCNA section. Anyway, I can't find it now so i thought I'd start a new thread.

I've now mindmapped the first chapter of the ccna fast pass book. Not sure how useful it'll be to other people. Maybe it'll be of some use. Perhaps I'll get some webspace to embed all the mind maps. I'm also putting together a mindmap of cisco ccna resources. I'm finding it hard to keep track of everything I find on the web - hopefully this will help.

so - summary of ccna resources
https://www.mindomo.com/view?m=d4b0d7d8c3d4bea3318a0c1a0ff84dba


Chapter 1 of Sybex's CCNA Fast Pass - click on teh world gif's to move between mind maps. World gif at teh core of each map will return you to the main chapter 1 overview.
https://www.mindomo.com/view?m=c905b03e220466d09c9c336984c1e2b7

Like I say, perhaps this will be useful although I realise alot of the note taking, abbreviations are necessarily specific to me! But perhaps in future better mindmaps/notes can be done.

Anyway, good luck to all those studying.

JD

sprkymrk

Here is the thread you might have been looking for:

http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22552

I gave mind maps a try, but I didn't find it very "natural" as they claim, nor did I find it easier than my normal note taking. Maybe I just wasn't doing it right or maybe I didn't put enough effort into it.

JohnDouglas

sprykymrk - yep that's teh thread. i searched and searched for it. thanks.

i guess mind maps aren't for everyone. i'm not so clever and find making lots of notes in teh traditional way just confuses me!

i'll post on that thread.

Mwiinga

Hey JD,

Looks like a great study tool if u really put your mind to it. From what i've seen of your links, i think its cool. I'm yet to dig into it seriously but it might an OSPF to - 801 before Nov.

Gud luck to those of us who're chasing the certification b4 the deadline indeed.

Rgds
MK

totts

sprkymrk wrote:

Here is the thread you might have been looking for:

http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22552

I gave mind maps a try, but I didn't find it very "natural" as they claim, nor did I find it easier than my normal note taking. Maybe I just wasn't doing it right or maybe I didn't put enough effort into it.

I second mind maps. They're a very powerful learning and memory tool. However some people don't like them as they take a bit of time and effort. But it should be seen as an investment. Learn how to do them properly and you'll be rewarded!

JohnDouglas

Getting there! three chapters down and one to go.

I'm going to have to go over all these maps again. The fast pass structure isn't the best (i now realize!). Having info on say frame relay spread over three chapters isn't so good. But hey ho.

Anyway, links to the maps are now on my basic web pages:

http://mycisconotes.googlepages.com/mynotesonccnafastpass

So, I guess the info is of most use to me given I made the notes for me. But maybe I'll be able to produce maps of more general use in future. For example a map of various commands.

Good luck with the study.

JohnDouglas

At last I've finished going through CCNA Fast Pass and making mindmap notes on the whole thing. Actually now I wish I just stuck with the main Lammle CCNA book (which I've read cover to cover too) and made notes on that. But the big book seemed a bit daunting back in July.

So, now time to go back over the mindmaps working them over and memorising stuff. Also time to do a load of labs again. I've bought the CCNA Command Guide book to help with that. I guess I'll make a mindmap per lab.

tech-airman

JohnDouglas wrote:

At last I've finished going through CCNA Fast Pass and making mindmap notes on the whole thing. Actually now I wish I just stuck with the main Lammle CCNA book (which I've read cover to cover too) and made notes on that. But the big book seemed a bit daunting back in July.

So, now time to go back over the mindmaps working them over and memorising stuff. Also time to do a load of labs again. I've bought the CCNA Command Guide book to help with that. I guess I'll make a mindmap per lab.

JohnDouglas,

An important "mindmap" is the OSI Model and the encapsulation and decapsulation process.

mrj

I've been attempting to get used to Mindmaps lately, but find it very difficult to follow. I'm not sure if its due to the amount of shiney/colorful things on the screen at one time (I'm a wee ADD), or I'm just not used to it. But people highly recommend this process for studying, so I'll see what I can do in mindmapping the chapters myself.

JohnDouglas

I've started working through the mindmaps again. It's certainly easier going through notes rather than the book!

I'm trying to add more colour, pictures etc to aid memorisation.
https://www.mindomo.com/view?m=803f85e3c9c5bb31d592ce2003cb0812

As for the benefits over normal note taking methods I'm not sure. Personally if i type out notes i just end up typing out the book again. But mindmaps limit that option. I seem to have a good general knowledge of the CCNA Fast Pass book now. Still got to memorise some things though. I guess there's some things where only rote learning will work like address ranges etc.[/url]

mrj

I'm doing mindmaps on paper and loving it.

At first I tried to do "Chapter 1" in the middle of the page and branch off from there. Right.

I had 3-4 topics and filled the page.

So I decided to do the major topics on theor own page. I'll start from the FAR LEFT edge of the page, and branch off from there. This way I usually can put 3-4 major topics onto one paper.

These books don't make it very easy to map, though. They jump around from topic to topic so much it's rather infuriating. Ciscopress and Sybex. I'll probably grab a Que book and see if they're any more linear in the approach. I've always enjoyed Que books.

JohnDouglas

Well, I passed a while ago and thought I'd report back on the mindmaps.

Actually, now I think about it I've not alot to say. I think the mindmaps worked well enough for me. They stopped me just typing out the whole book. And I only had to go over the mindmaps a couple of times in order to learn all the stuff.

If anything I've learned more about general study skills. Cramming for exams in two months isn't the best way of going about things. I should have started steadily making notes at the beginning of the year and really learning each chapter as I went through it. Instead I just speed read each chapter before that weeks class. Not good.

Other thing is constant testing. When I learned languages I used to use supermemo to create lists of questions and answers and test myself every morning. I'll be doing that for CCNP.

So, I guess mindmaps are ok - consistent study is more important. What a revelation eh !

I think I'll carry on with mindmaps for CCNP though - or perhaps use evernote or onenote - an MS program for storing your notes online.

JohnDouglas

Oh, and I don't reckon that ccna fast pass book is any good. it's like no ones actually proof read it. sometimes sections end mid-topic! amazing. i should have stuck with odom and the large lammle.