Online Concept Mapping

For my third Emerging Technology experience, I chose online concept mapping because I wanted to choose something I was completely unfamiliar with, challenging myself to learn something new.

In classrooms, students are taught to develop ideas on paper prior to creating projects and writing papers and reports. Various ink colors, highlighters and even Post-It notes are used to build these creative charts. But computers have provided a new means of brainstorming, allowing for easy adding and removing of items, typing instead of writing, and collaborating with others online. Online concept mapping makes it possible to share the creative process of making the mind map as well as to share it online when it is complete.

Creating a mind map is simple. The first step is to put a key word, phrase or symbol representing the main concept in the center of the page, whether paper or computer. Second, identify other important concepts regarding the key point by posting them or writing them outside of the key point. Develop each new concept moving outward. Mindmapping is an excellent alternative to traditional outlining and appeals to those who are more visual learners.

Much like the blog and online scrapbook, signing up for the online concept map was simple and painless. I used mindmeister.com, but checked out many others and all seemed very simple to create. I chose mindmeister.com because I preferred its tutorial, as well as the appearance of its completed concept map. I chose to create my map about creating a concept map. My map is simple, but if this were a collaborated project, others would be permitted to add to, take away from, or simply change the colors on my map. They would be able make sure anything I missed would be added so the project would be complete.

This could be a great tool for students of all ages to use. Whether working alone or in groups, it could be helpful to allow the teacher to see the student’s thought process, to understand their starting point and how they got to the finished project. I also think it could be useful for teachers who team teach or collaborate on a particular unit to work together, especially if they do not have much time to meet and plan. I, personally, am going to use it for an upcoming group project in another class! 