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Turn your notes into a summary mind map with AI

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

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What a summary mind map should show

A good summary mind map puts the chapter's main idea in the center and gives each section its own branch. The examples on this page show what that looks like for a biology topic, with short sub-points you can check against your textbook.

Keep the main idea short enough to fit in the center node.
Give each main branch one section or theme from the source.
Use two to four sub-points per branch, each a fact or term you could explain aloud.
Redo the map from memory after a day to see which branches you can recall.

Example summary mind map branches from a biology chapter

Light-dependent reactionsOccur in thylakoid membranes · Split water and release oxygen · Produce ATP and NADPH

Calvin cycleTakes place in the stroma · Fixes carbon dioxide into sugar · Uses ATP and NADPH from the light reactions

InputsLight energy · Carbon dioxide · Water

OutputsGlucose or other sugars · Oxygen

Where it happensChloroplasts · Mostly in leaf mesophyll cells

Generate the full set

Editable maps

Rename, reorder, merge, or add branches after DeckOwl drafts the first version.

Explorable structure

Expand and collapse branches to move from the main idea down to the supporting details.

Built from your material

Start from a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain notes, or a photo of a page read with text recognition.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text notes, or a photo of a page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl drafts a mind map with the main idea in the center and branches for each section.

Edit and explore

Adjust branches and expand each one to check that the summary matches your reading.

When you have your own reading, the fastest route is to upload it and let DeckOwl draft the structure. You can then reorder branches, merge overlapping ones, and trim anything that does not belong, so the final map reflects what your course actually covers.

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Frequently asked questions

How many branches should a summary mind map have?

Most chapter summaries work well with four to seven main branches, each holding two to four short sub-points. If you need more, add a second level instead of crowding the first one.

How do I make a summary mind map from a textbook chapter?

Write the chapter's main idea in the center, then turn each heading into a main branch. Fill each branch with the key terms and facts you would need to explain that section in your own words.

Can I edit the mind map after DeckOwl creates it?

Yes, the mind map is editable and you can expand or collapse branches to explore it. Exporting the map to PDF or other formats is a paid feature.

Is there a free plan?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but no exports. Plus costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month, and students get 40% off with a school email.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.