The mentefacto is a graphic tool whose purpose is to summarize specific topics. In other words, the mentefacto serves to know what is known about a subject or to share knowledge with others. In this way, the menfact is equivalent to a conceptual scheme for ordering ideas.
With respect to the word, it is formed by the concepts mind and fact. Thus, we could say that human thought (the mental) is translatable into facts (the factual) and both ideas can be graphically communicated in a scheme, the actual mind.
The idea of mentefacto is equivalent to others, such as ideogram, synoptic table or concept map.
How to make a mindfact
The mentefacto consists of a number of elements. In the central part of a page or a blank screen, the title or general subject is specified. At the top it is indicated what exactly the general theme is, that is, what type of idea it is.
In the right part of the central section, everything that is outside the issue is included, that is, the excluded elements (to express this idea, a symbol that expresses inequality can be incorporated).
In the left part of the central section the causes that determine the main issue are incorporated. From this graphic representation it is already possible to make an explanation on a certain topic.
The usefulness of a mindfact
As for its usefulness, this conceptual tool is used to visualize ideas and follow an order when presenting content. In this way, both the one who exposes the facto mind and the one who listens to its explanations have a material support that helps to understand the concepts and their implications.
As a didactic tool, the mentefacto is considered very effective in reinforcing argumentative thinking.
In fact, in the academic field the idea of the argumentative mind has been coined. It should be noted, on the other hand, that there are different ways of understanding this tool and that is why we speak of conceptual, notional or propositional mental facts.
In any of its modalities, these graphic schemes are designed to optimize communication and for ideas to have internal coherence. In terms of their applications, these word graphics are part of both the academic world and the business world.
Photos: iStock - Christopher Futcher / mediaphotos
