Mind Maps: Visual Tools for Teaching and Learning


Floyd Csir
Instructional Support Specialist
Center for Support of Instruction
Published: September-October 2010

Category: » Online-pedagogy » Teaching-tools

Introduction

Mind maps are effective tools to assist with understanding concepts by offering a method of organizing and displaying information, providing context either in a general or specific manner. This article provides a brief history on mind maps and their possible uses, discusses features and functionalities of mind mapping tools, provides sample suggested assignments that utilize mind maps, and provides a short list of free mind mapping software that is available on the market today.

Background: Constructivist Beginnings and Uses

Mind maps (also known as concept maps) have been around for decades and grew out of the constructivist learning model. The Encyclopedia of Education (Halpern, Donaghey, Lamon, & Brewer, 2003) notes that constructivism is an educational theory in which students learn when solving problems using past experiences, previous knowledge, and reflection to actively develop a framework for comprehension. Through this constructive process, students gain meaningful and personal understanding.

Visual representations of information, research, and work are becoming easier to create and share through Web applications called mind maps. Concept maps externalize the student's knowledge about a subject for the teacher and the student, according to Novak and Gowin (1984). In the past, demonstrating ideas or projects visually was reserved for those with graphic design knowledge. Now, new technologies enable novice users to create and produce visual products.

Mind maps can be used collaboratively with students and colleagues. Using mind maps can also assist both faculty and students in effectively dealing with information overload through the nesting of hierarchies. Other uses for mind maps include taking notes, brainstorming ideas, and developing organizational or flow charts. Project management planning and tracking can also be done through mind maps. Figure 1 below shows a mind map that was used to organize and outline the content for this article.

 Mindomo mind map screen shot

Features and Considerations

The features available in different mindmapping tools vary; however, the following functionalities are useful:

  • Mind maps can be created for individual or collaborative use and are readily available on the Web.
  • Exporting and importing of mind maps is available in various image formats. Students and faculty can easily export mind maps to their personal computers and upload them into WebTycho. Mind map images can also be inserted into slide presentation software like PowerPoint as well as word processing documents like Word.

Note: The dimensions of exported mind map images can get very large. If an assignment requires that a mind map be part of a PowerPoint presentation or even a Word document, be aware that multiple screenshots may be necessary to capture all the information on a slide/page. The dimensions of exported mind maps can be reduced to fit on a slide/page, but doing so may also reduce readability. 

  • More advanced mind maps integrate photos and videos, which opens up more creative possibilities. Preset icons, similar to clip art, are another feature of some mind maps.
  • Some mind mapping tools may offer both predefined and customizable maps in terms of colors, typefaces, topic shapes, topic layout/organization, and more.
  • Mind maps can be made read-only, allowing viewers to move around the mind map and click on added links or videos without removing or changing the original content.
  • Mind maps can be public or private. Some mind map services allow for public searching and viewing, so if student privacy is a concern (FERPA), make sure the mind map service allows for private mind maps or indicates whether the mind map is public or private.

Assignment Suggestions

Mind maps can be used in the online classroom in a variety of ways; a few suggestions are listed below. Keep in mind that assignments which utilize mind maps should be set up so that students export an image of their map directly into a designated area of the WebTycho classroom (such as the Assignments Folder) for your review to help protect the integrity of their work, grades, and privacy. However, if links or multimedia are part of a mind map, you may want to have students also provide you with a link to their private (and possibly read-only) mind map online so that you can access that additional content (which would not be available/clickable in the imported image).

Note: Depending on how a mind map is used, faculty should be clear about expectations for citing videos, articles, or Web sites that students link to in their mind maps. If citation is a concern, ask students to include a Works Cited or References page along with their mind maps.

Research Organizer

Using mind maps is an effective intermediate step to help students stay on track when conducting research and keeping track of sources. In this activity, students provide their thought processes prior to submitting a finished paper or presentation, which helps decrease plagiarism. Since mind maps can provide persistent URLs to referenced main and subtopics within a mind map, students can link directly to articles that they will use in their papers.

Activity guidelines:

  1. Develop a mind map based on a particular topic.
  2. Use main keywords found in article abstracts to locate five subtopics. (The EBSCOhost suite of library databases at the UMUC Library provides a visual search function which displays hierarchies from a search.)
  3. Provide persistent URLs for at least five articles and insert links in the mind map.
  4. Export the mind map as a JPG image and submit it to the designated area of the classroom.

Collaborative Concept Connector

Activity suggestion: Have student groups create mind maps based on different topics. After all students have submitted their mind maps, have them make connections to each other's ideas. Are there any common elements? What is different?

Concept Quiz

Activity suggestions:

Option 1: Develop criteria for a quiz and have students create a mind map based on readings from the previous week.

Option 2: Ask students to create a mind map based on topics discussed in the week's conferences.

Team Building Activity

Ask students to develop a mind map about the components of a team they have worked on before, such as being on a committee or in a band. There are a variety of issues related to this, such as setup, budget, instruments, cooperation, respect, task load, etc.

Activity guidelines:

  • Identify the important terms or concepts concerning teamwork that should be included on your map. Make these terms/concepts the subheadings in your mind map. (Only one term/concept per subheading.)
  • Arrange concepts in a pattern that best represents the information as you understand it.
  • Make connections to each term or concept that builds or adds value.
  • Use colors to add interest to your map (optional).

Use your map to present or write a short essay to summarize the questions below:

  1. What dynamics and elements make a team effective or ineffective?
  2. If the team in your scenario was ineffective, consider what would have made the team more effective? Be prepared to provide solutions.
  3. If the team in your scenario was effective, what aspects made the team work well together?
  4. How has this activity helped you prepare for the study group assignment?
  5. How can you contribute to your team to make it effective? If your team gets into a snag, how can you respond to help the team?

  

Free Mind Mapping Tools

A selection of mind mapping tools is listed below. These tools include features such as Web-based services, multi-user collaboration (for adding to or manipulating the mind map), the ability to export images of the mind map in JPG format, free (or a free version), and easy to use and learn. These tools also have instructional text or video tutorials that support setup and use of their features. Note that free versions of mind map applications typically allow a limited number of mind maps to be created on a single account. Registration is usually required to use these tools.

Note: Tools noted with an asterisk (*) below are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and/or promotions during usage. Please check these tools' individual Web sites for more details.

  • Mindomo* - Offers private and public mind maps, allows importing of audio and images, has moveable map features with space for notes and links.
  • Bubbl.us - Visually appealing, easy to use, and not constrained by preset hierarchies.
  • MindMeister* - Offers preset icons and the option of making public mind maps, and offers collaboration via Skype videoconferencing.
  • Mind42 - Offers preset icons and the option of creating public mind maps, has a minimalist design, offers collaboration via Skype videoconferencing, and is geared towards hierarchies.
  • WiseMapping - Geared towards hierarchies, allows words to be dragged and dropped to change their position within a hierarchy, and offers tagging of mind maps.

Some mind map services, such as FreeMind, offer desktop or offline functionality and allow for importing of mind maps created by competitors' mindmapping software and may be designed primarily for a single user.  

Free Mind Maps on Mobile Devices

As mobile devices become more commonplace for computing, mind mapping services are extending their functionality to these devices. Two such services are noted below. 

  • MindMeister - Offers a version of the Web-based software that runs specifically on iPhones and the iPad.
    http://www.mindmeister.com/
  • Thinking Space* - A free app for Android phones, shown in Figure 2.
    http://www.thinkingspace.net/

 

Summary

Mind mapping tools can be used in a variety of ways in the online classroom, and they can be valuable for both teaching and learning. The digital versions available today present a useful, easy way to organize a wealth of knowledge and deliver a visual method for connecting ideas together and adding new ones to the mix.

Note: This article mentions a few examples of mind mapping technologies. These references should not be taken as an endorsement of any particular tool, technology, or company. If you are thinking of implementing any of these tools into your course, check with your academic administrator for suitability.

References

Halpern, D., Donaghey, B., Lamon, M., & Brewer, W. (2003). Learning theory. In Encyclopedia of Education (Vol. 4, pp. 1458-1469). (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Available from  http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=umd_umuc

Novak, J. D., & Gowin, D. B. (1984). Learning how to learn. New York: Cambridge University Press. 

               

About the Author(s)

Floyd Csir enjoys collaborating with colleagues on a variety of instructional technology projects that help students, faculty, and staff reach their goals. He joined the CSI staff in August 2009 as an instructional support specialist.

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