mind maps(also called mind maps, mind maps, and mind maps) is a way to present ideas visually, and to show the connection between them using diagrams.
The technique for creating such a mind map was developed long before the online tools listed in this article were available.
Now there are dozens of services that allow you to create mind maps that include not only text, but also other elements such as images, links and videos. You can also work on maps with other users, share maps on social networks, and embed them on websites.
How can a teacher use mind maps in their work?
- When explaining new material, to organize and visualize the material.
- For brainstorming - both when discussing new material, and for solving organizational issues.
How can students use mind maps in teaching?
- To write a draft of a written work, to organize your ideas.
- When studying a complex topic, in order to better understand the material.
- As an independent task, as an alternative to a presentation, poster or report.
This article lists 3 free and easy to use tools - Bubbl.us, Coggle and Popplet. If you have never created mind maps before, then it is advisable to start with them. If you need more advanced features, pay attention to paid programs like Lucidchart, Mind42, MindMeister, SpiderScribe and Stormboard.
Bubble.us
Bubbl.us is a very simple online tool. Good for those who need only text to create a memory card, and who do not need elements such as images or attachments (in the paid version you can add images, in the free version only text is available).
Coggle is a free service that allows you to create beautiful online maps. Here you can create any number of branches, bend them, change colors, and move elements.
You need a Gmail account to use Coggle. A good option for educational institutions where they are already actively used.
At first glance, Popplet seems like a very simple tool, but it actually has a number of interesting features that allow you to create beautiful multimedia mind maps.
Popplet cards can be made up of many elements containing text, uploaded images, drawings, or videos. Elements can be highlighted in different colors, resized and moved. You can zoom in on an element to see it in detail, or zoom out to see the entire map.
You can work on the map together with other users, who can either add comments to map elements or create their own elements. The finished map can be printed, shared on Facebook or Twitter, exported as PDF or PNG. The interface is English. There is an online version and apps for iPhone and iPad. You can create up to 5 cards for free. For $3 per month, you can create an unlimited number of cards. There are group discounts for schools.
Discussion: 9 comments
I also used similar tasks, only I didn’t have a French tense system, but ways of expressing the future tense in English and different meanings of modal verbs.
You can also find many ready-made mind maps dedicated to learning English on the Web, which is quite convenient for both students and teachers.
I myself often build mind maps, but not for work, but, as they say, for myself, in order to structure my own ideas.
And it seems to me that these maps can and should be made by students. When compiling, they reflect on new material.
But teachers also sometimes need to make a mind map - not for students, for themselves.
Obviously different people can do it for different purposes, I just shared my view on the place of cards in the learning process.
It's hard to say, convenience is a subjective thing :).
It seems to me that Google is a simple and intuitive tool. But if you need advanced features, then you should choose another solution.
Mind maps can be used in different ways, depending on the experience with them and the creativity of the teacher and students. For example, my students drew a system of French tenses. Most importantly, mind maps are a good study motivator.
To create mind maps, I recommend mindmeister.net. In my opinion, this is the best software for mind mapping. There is everything you need - cloud storage, card sharing, mobile applications for Android and iOS, as well as many other features.
There is also mind42 com - I have been using it for a long time
Coggle looks nice, I like it. Can you tell me how comfortable it is?
An intellect map, or mental maps (mind-maps) is a display of an effective way to think, remember, remember, solve creative problems, as well as the ability to present and visually express your internal information processing processes, make changes to them, improve them. Mind maps - is a tool that allows you to:
- it is easier to work with information: remember, understand, restore logic.
- it is convenient to use for the presentation of the material and a visual explanation of one’s position to the interlocutors
- makes it easier to make decisions, create plans, develop projects.
1 Google
Coggle is a free online project collaboration application. In this program, you can develop handy beautiful mind maps. The interface of the program is simple, but at the same time it has many functions that make the process of creating a mind map incredibly simple. The program supports the use of images, custom color schemes and the ability to view document history. Keeping a history of changes allows you to revert to earlier versions of the created map if you hit a dead end in the current version. Mind maps created with Coggle can be exported as PNG or PDF.
2.Xmind
XMind is a popular cross-platform mind mapping software that runs on Windows / Mac / Linux platforms. The program has several versions: free with reduced features and paid with advanced functionality. One of the main advantages of the program is its support and compatibility with the Microsoft Office package. And a nice addition is the ability of the program to work with Gantt charts.
3. Freemind
The program is an open source free application that runs on any platform that supports Java. In general, the program has all the necessary set of functions for creating high-quality mind maps. The only disadvantage of the program is the outdated design of mind maps.
4. Mind Node
MindNode is a paid mind mapping app for Mac/IOS. The program has a modern minimalist design and is very easy to use. It supports integration with all Apple devices, works well both on the iPad and in the mobile version. The application allows you to export created mind maps to JPG, PDF, TIFF, text formats, and also supports mind map export to the format of a competing Freemind program. For users unfamiliar with the program, a trial version of the program with a limited set of MindNode Lite functions is available.
5. BubbleUs
Bubble.us is a free online mind mapping application. The application allows you to create simple mind-maps and export them as images. The functionality of the program, in comparison with the simple solutions of MindNode and Coggle, seems a bit fancy, but still the program solves the task and creates good mind maps. The program runs on flash and will not work on smartphones.
6.MindMeister
MindMeister is a paid online mind mapping application. Provides several options for a subscription fee, and also provides the opportunity to use the program for free. On a free basis, you can build 3 mind-maps with limited export options. The application has a user-friendly interface and all the necessary set of functions, which allows you to understand the simplicity and convenience of smart card technology. The disadvantage of the program is the possibility of full use only with regular payment, so it is more suitable for those who use mind maps regularly. The program is Russified.
7. Mapul
Mapul is a paid online mind mapping application. Like MindMeister, Mapul is a monthly subscription service. The program stands out among all other applications with its fancy mind-map design.
8. WiseMapping
WiseMapping is a free online mind mapping application powered by open source HTML5. The program can be used directly on the developer's website, or you can download the open source code of the program and install it on your own web server. The application has the entire set of functions for working with smart card technology.
About mental maps, opinions were divided approximately in half.
Someone says that it's a great thing, visual and useful. Someone says that this is nonsense and a waste of time. Another part of the people did not understand at all what it was and why it was needed, apparently it was my fault - I explained it poorly.
I made an unacceptable mistake for a copywriter - instead of speaking in the language of consumer benefits, I began to describe the qualities of the product without first interested the audience.
Well, they learn from mistakes, especially since this is not an advertising text at all, despite the fact that an affiliate link to the program is present, as someone probably noticed 🙂 However, this is rather my optimism or even faith in a miracle, given that that 9 out of 10 still download from torrents, while the rest use the free version)
This is really my enthusiastic review of a cool thing, which, surprisingly, quickly interested me and absorbed some of my time)
So, what are the benefits of using iMindMap
I will not paint long lists of advantages, you can read the last article and comments on it, I already wrote a lot of things there.
I'll just give an example:
Your schedule for the week, if you write it down on one sheet of paper in linear text ( I think it should be big), how long will it take to cover and most importantly realize it completely with one glance? And what would be remembered in detail and after a while it is just as easy to reproduce from memory? And most importantly, how much effort will be spent on it?
Now imagine that you have made a mental map of your schedule, and feel the difference, as they say)
This is not my card, found on the Internet)
If even now you don’t see the difference and benefit, then try to do this trick on your own to feel it for yourself. But only after you try it yourself, and say that it’s nonsense, it’s not interesting, it’s no use, then I’ll believe you) And so far it’s just “too lazy to bother”)
Here is another example of a mental map in Russian, otherwise not everyone liked the English versions last time.
And the practical application of mindmaps in articles on the blog, and tell me that they do not work, Svetlana did a very good job) By the way, also watch the video, this is a presentation from the same program.
Why did you choose the iMindMap mind map software?
One of the main reasons- in developing participated directly by Tony Buzan himself, creator and promoter of mind maps. Agree, this is such a significant plus.
Graphic arts- I was very impressed with it, compared to other programs - beautiful, stylish, simple. And most importantly, flexibility and smoothness - how nice it is to drag these branches, and they themselves smoothly adjust to the overall picture))
Intuitive interface- forgive me for the clichés, but it is) It will not be difficult to figure out how to work in it, additional options are mastered as needed. This is not for you to study adobe illustrator with its thousands of options and settings)
Here is my trial first mental map for one of the blog articles, made in this program in 20 minutes.
Here, of course, without pictures and not according to all the rules, I didn’t strain much, as you can see =) But I think it conveys the essence of the article.
By the way, there you can use a set of ready-made symbols and icons, you can upload your own images, or you can generally draw manually using the built-in graphic editor, which is generally a pleasure for those who like to draw)
It is also possible to write notes to the keys, floating text, insert sound files, make presentations, and many more interesting goodies. The main functionality is available even in the free version, to tell the truth, it is quite enough for normal use. Full features will cost $ 250, well, I kind of wrote about this ( I personally don't need them)
By the way, the paid version of iMindMap supports its own cloud service, with the ability to synchronize mental maps, as well as editing in a flash environment.
Ultimately, what I want to say is that for especially complex technical posts, it is quite possible that I will use the schematics created in this program and add them to articles for clarity.
And maybe I won’t 🙂 But at least for myself, I have already found a use for mental maps.
There are no related posts.
Everyone who has used mind-mapping technology at least once knows how convenient, multitasking and simple it is. Apparently, this is why the compilation of mind maps (or mental maps) is beginning to enjoy such popularity. Mind maps are used to record ideas, associations; they help to brainstorm, plan work within the framework of the project, draw up a brief business analysis of the situation, and are also used to draw up notes, write down abstracts from books and magazines read.
We offer a fresh selection of 8 excellent programs for compiling mind maps. We are sure that these programs will help you use mind-mapping technology at 100%. In the selection you will find many free applications and you can easily choose the best option for yourself.
And if you have not used the mind map method in your work until today, it's time to try it!
Coggle
Coggle is a free online project collaboration application. In this program, you can develop handy beautiful mind maps. The interface of the program is simple, but at the same time it has many functions that make the process of creating a mind map incredibly simple. The program supports the use of images, custom color schemes and the ability to view document history. Keeping a history of changes allows you to revert to earlier versions of the created map if you hit a dead end in the current version. Mind maps created with Coggle can be exported as PNG or PDF.
Xmind
XMind is a popular cross-platform mind mapping software that runs on Windows / Mac / Linux platforms. The program has several versions: free with reduced features and paid with advanced functionality. One of the main advantages of the program is its support and compatibility with the Microsoft Office package. And a nice addition is the ability of the program to work with Gantt charts.
Freemind
The program is an open source free application that runs on any platform that supports Java. In general, the program has all the necessary set of functions for creating high-quality mind maps. The only disadvantage of the program is the outdated design of mind maps.
is a paid application for creating mind maps on Mac / IOS. The program has a modern minimalist design and is very easy to use. It supports integration with all Apple devices, works well both on the iPad and in the mobile version. The application allows you to export created mind maps to formats: JPG, PDF, TIFF, text formats, and also supports mind map export to the format of the competing Freemind program.
For users unfamiliar with the program, a trial version of the program with a limited set of MindNode Lite features is available.
BubbleUs
Bubble.us is a free online mind mapping application. The application allows you to create simple mind-maps and export them as images. The functionality of the program, in comparison with the simple solutions of MindNode and Coggle, seems a bit fancy, but still the program solves the task and creates good mind maps. The program runs on flash and will not work on smartphones.
The program is a paid online mind mapping application. Provides several options for a subscription fee, and also provides the opportunity to use the program for free. On a free basis, you can build 3 mind-maps with limited export options. The application has a user-friendly interface and all the necessary set of functions, which allows you to understand the simplicity and convenience of smart card technology. The disadvantage of the program is the possibility of full use only with regular payment, so it is more suitable for those who use mind maps regularly. The program is Russified.
Mapul
Mapul is a paid online mind mapping application. Like MindMeister, Mapul is a monthly subscription service. The program stands out from all other applications with its fancy mind-map design.
The program is a free online application for creating mind maps, running on HTML5 open source code. The program can be used directly on the developer's website, or you can download the open source code of the program and install it on your own web server. The application has the entire set of functions for working with smart card technology.
There are various ways to capture the course of your thoughts or convey them to the audience. You can write, underline and highlight text in different colors, draw, draw tables, diagrams and graphs. The human brain is designed in such a way that it wants to perceive information visually. Psychologists have been thinking about this for a long time and developed the concept of a connection diagram, which can also be called a mind map, a mind map, etc. (English mind map). At the heart of such a diagram of connections lies the central idea, from which a certain number of branches depart, continuing to diverge further. The central idea can be a question, task, problem or area of knowledge, and the branches can be solutions.
The inventor of the technique is the psychologist Tony Buzan, although, of course, one cannot attribute the authorship of the idea to one person. He wrote a lot of books on the development of thinking and memory, contributing a lot to the popularization of mental maps. And in 2006, he led the development of mind mapping software called iMindMap. Thus, the method of visualization of thinking was transferred from paper to a computer, having received a lot of additional possibilities.
⇡ About the program
iMindMap is far from the only program in the list of mind map editors. And although it is inferior to Mindjet MindManager and ConceptDraw Office MindMap in terms of functionality and prevalence, it is an application with the “most human face”. iMindMap is cross-platform - there are versions for both Windows, Mac and Linux desktop systems, as well as for iPhone, iPad and Android mobile devices, as well as a "cloud" version. The program has a visually pleasing interface and supports the Russian language. You do not need to understand it for a long time - an unprepared user can immediately understand what this technique is. But most importantly, mind maps are more "live" and interesting than in similar editors, where they have a somewhat scientific look. However, take a look at the screenshot and decide for yourself which type of cards you like best.
On the left - a map made in iMindMap, on the right - in Mindjet MindManager
The program is available in three editions: Basic, Home&Student and Ultimate, which differ in the available functionality. The basic version is free, the educational version is $67, and the basic version is $256. There is also a version for mobile devices with access to the "cloud" for $13.99 per year. To get a free edition, you should register on the official ThinkBuzan website. Despite the large number of limitations, the main function - to create a map and export it as an image - you can use.
⇡ Creating a map in the program
iMindMap has a familiar office interface and Ribbon-style menu design. An open map is displayed in the main information window, on the right is a panel for inserting additional objects, which can be pinned. Switching between maps is carried out on the tab bar under the main window.
iMindMap Interface
Creating a new map starts with choosing an image for the central idea. If the pictures present do not suit you, you can open your own. Then change the name of this object and start branching from it in different directions to any length. From the tips of those branches - new branches, and so on ad infinitum. Each branch is given a name that spreads along its length and can be aligned to one side, like text on a page. The shape of the branch can be changed by bending it in various ways at several key points. The location changes in the same way - just grab the branch by the tip and move it to any place, while other branches will automatically move. Branches at any level can be collapsed and expanded, perform various actions on them - delete, cut and paste, recolor, change the font of the name.
Adding new branches
The essence of this process is to find all options for solving the problem, ways to complete the task, etc. For example, you are going to launch a website - this will be the central idea. One branch "development" will depart from it, others - "filling", "optimization", "promotion". From the last branch, in turn, stand out "banner exchange", "contextual advertising", "promotion in social networks". From "promotion in social networks" - Facebook, VKontakte, Twitter and so on. Thus, all points related to the implementation of this task will be thought out and clearly presented.
It is worth saying that additional central ideas can be added to the map. Branches extending from it will not intersect with the main tree. It is rather a visual convenience associated with the unlimitedness of the canvas. It is also possible to create child maps on any part of the branch - in this case, the selected branch will become the central idea, from which all subsequent branches will depart.
Each branch can be attached to various objects that complement its informational significance: icons, pictures, notes, audio recordings and links. The icons are divided into groups, each symbolizing something different - a trip, a document, a person, a calendar month. They are displayed near the tip of the branch, as are the images that are also attached to the branches. But notes, audio recordings and links are created and viewed / listened to / opened in the sidebar - only the denoting symbol will be visible on the branches. You can attach several different objects: for example, add a screenshot of the site along with a description and a link to it to a branch.
Adding a note to a thread
You can assign objects to branches, or you can add pictures, tables and flowcharts, which are created here using simple editors. These elements will be displayed under the branches as pictures. You can resize them, unpin them, and drag them to empty space or other branches. Floating text and pictures are also inserted in the empty space to indicate information not tied to the tree. All added objects can be moved to the background and foreground if they overlap.
Branches are added in several modes. You can draw standard branches by hand, giving them any shape - in this case, the number of geometric points can be unlimited. Branches are also inserted with a frame at the end, and the text is located inside it, and not along the length of the entire branch. You can add links between branches with arrows - this allows you to visually loop your tree and connect individual elements to each other. True, with a large number of arrows it becomes difficult to make out where they all lead. A cloud-shaped frame is superimposed on the branches, which also passes to child branches - but what's bad, it is not removed back.
Branch Framing
When you place branches on the screen, they can be pinned with a pushpin to keep their shape and position. If you don't want to manually lay out the layout, there's a "magic" Cleanup feature that will automatically lay out your tree, giving it the most concise look. By the way, compression can be performed on every collapse and deletion of branches, or on any map change at all, if you configure it accordingly in the "SmartLayout Options". The style of the tree also changes there - the degree of “roundness” of the branches is selected (you can make them completely straight) and their “spreading”, that is, the minimum distance from each other.
Map before and after "cleaning"
If you don't like the color scheme used and the structure of the branches of the map, you can choose different tones and style of the tree (curve type and line weight), as well as fonts and canvas background color. The card can be given both a strict corporate and a cheerful childish look, and if you like the result, then add the specified style to the standard ones. You can save the entire map as a template. When creating a new card, it is possible to use ready-made educational, personal and business templates.
iMindMap uses its own IMX format to save maps, and allows you to export to many formats: raster and vector images, documents, presentations, web pages, projects, audio recordings, tables, archives, and OPML markup. In the free and trial versions, saving is only available in JPEG and PNG format, but the resolution can be quite high.
⇡ Map display modes
Mind maps in iMindMap can be viewed in various display modes. If you want to show a map of the audience (primarily with a projector), then there are two modes for this: 3D and presentation. The 3D view is quite spectacular, and it also allows you to navigate through the branches interactively.
Displaying the map in 3D
The presentation mode will show you how to create a map step by step. A mouse click brings up the next slide.
Displaying the map as a presentation
In addition, it is possible to view the map in the form of a classic catalog, where instead of branches their names are displayed, which can be collapsed and expanded. But of particular interest to users involved in planning their time may be the display of the map in the form of a project, where there is a connection with the Gantt chart.
Displaying the map as a project
What you should be aware of here is that each added branch is by default a task that has a start and end date, as well as a status (completed or not completed). Initially, the day the task was created is set in both fields with the date, and you can change these parameters only for terminal branches that do not have a continuation. At the same time, changes in child branches automatically shift the date range and percentage of completion of the parent branch, which is the merging task; that, in turn, has its own, and so on up to the "global" task - the central idea. It is convenient to indicate the percentage of completion by attaching icons with project progress shares to the branches, as well as on the Gantt chart. This is a scale that clearly shows the length of time during which various tasks are performed (it has its own characteristics, but we will not go into them in this article). It is also very convenient to change the duration and execution time of tasks on it. Finally, branches that are not tasks can be disabled from being used in project management.
⇡ Synchronization with the "cloud"
As mentioned earlier, the program is cross-platform, and is also present in the "cloud". The web version is intended primarily for synchronizing maps between different devices, but it also allows you to edit them in a browser window. To use the service, you must have an account on the ThinkBuzan system. And although there is 1 GB of space on the server, synchronization of only five cards is available in the free mode, and it occurs only once every 24 hours. For money, these restrictions will be lifted. This service is paid separately from the purchase of the program, while you can download the version of iMindMap for your mobile device on the iOS/Android platform. The package is called iMindMap Freedom and the subscription is $13.99 per year.
Card management in ThinkBuzan Cloud
You can view and edit maps in the "cloud" in the same way as local maps. You can rename, delete, sort them into folders both through the application interface and in the web version. To add a card to the "cloud", you need to select "Save to ThinkBuzan Cloud" in the save mode and specify the appropriate folder. On the service website, this is done using the "Import" button. The function of exporting to various formats is available only in paid mode.
Cloud editor ThinkBuzan Cloud
The "cloud" map editor is based on the Flash platform. Its functionality is greatly reduced compared to the desktop version, and only English is available from languages. The process of adding branches has remained the same, and their appearance has also been preserved. It is still possible to add frame branches and links. You can change colors, fonts, and text alignment. Icons, notes and links are attached to the branches, and you can place pictures and floating text on the canvas. Actually, everything is limited to this, but the main thing is that the cards do not lose their attractiveness online.
⇡ Conclusion
iMindMap was created under the guidance of the author of the idea of mind maps, and is sometimes referred to as the official software for this technique. The program was made for mass users inexperienced in complex conceptual applications. It is inferior in functionality to many other editors, but surpasses all analogues in terms of style, usability and cross-platform. iMindMap can be an extremely useful tool for students, office workers, and in general all people who are inclined to plan and analyze data. It can be used for a variety of purposes: organizing projects and various aspects of life, taking notes from books and lectures, structuring knowledge. Thanks to the presence of iMindMap on all major platforms and the synchronization of maps with the "cloud", they will always be with you, wherever you are and whatever device you are currently using.
