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Turn your class notes into a sticky note mind map you can edit

Upload a PDF, DOCX, slides, or photos of your notes and get an editable mind map you can explore branch by branch.

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Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

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Why a sticky note layout helps you study

Students who want sticky note mind maps usually want each idea on its own small card that can be read at a glance and connected to related ideas. That layout makes it easier to see how a lecture's concepts relate, which is hard to do from a long page of typed notes.

Start from your own PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or photographed notes.
Keep each concept on its own branch so related ideas stay grouped.
Edit the map as your understanding of the topic changes.
Move from the map to flashcards or quizzes built from the same material.

Example cell biology mind map branches

Cell membranePhospholipid bilayer · selectively permeable · embedded proteins · cholesterol stabilizes fluidity

MitosisProphase · metaphase · anaphase · telophase

PhotosynthesisLight-dependent reactions · Calvin cycle · produces ATP and NADPH · occurs in chloroplasts

EnzymesActive site · substrate specificity · lower activation energy · activity depends on temperature and pH

Cellular respirationGlycolysis · Krebs cycle · electron transport chain · yields ATP

Generate the full set

Built from your material

Start with your own PDF, Word file, slides, or photographed pages instead of a generic template.

Editable and explorable

Change the branches and open each idea to see how it connects to the rest of the map.

Study from the same source

Use the mind map to plan a review, then generate flashcards or a quiz from the same notes.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text, or a photo of a page. Photos are read with text recognition.

Generate the map

DeckOwl pulls the main ideas into a mind map with branches for the key concepts.

Edit and explore

Adjust the branches to match your course, then work through each one before a test.

The fastest way to get one is to start from the material you already have. Upload your reading or slides, let the AI group the main ideas into branches, and then edit the map so it reflects what your instructor emphasized. You can keep refining it as the course moves on.

A mind map is most useful as a starting point. Once the structure is clear, turn the same notes into practice questions so you can test what you remember rather than only reviewing the map.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I organize biology notes into a mind map?

Start with one central topic, such as cell biology, and make the major units its first-level branches. Put the processes, structures, and terms for each unit on second-level branches, and keep each branch to a short phrase.

How many branches should a study mind map have?

Most topics work well with four to seven main branches, each with two to four sub-points. If a branch grows much larger, split it into two branches so it stays easy to scan.

Can I export my mind map?

Exporting is part of the paid Plus plan, which includes PDF and DOCX export. The free plan lets you create and study mind maps in the browser without exporting them.

Does the free plan include mind maps?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month, and you can study the results in the browser. Plus removes the monthly limit and adds export options.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.