Cmap Tools software needs to be downloaded and installed on your system, but this is an easy process. It's available from the Cmap Tools site: http://cmap.ihmc.us/
Features
Create and share concept maps and mind maps with colours, different shapes and text.
Cost
Free. The CmapTools client is free for use by anybody, whether its use is commercial or non-commercial.
What it's used for
It's used to create concept maps (See the samples in this resource) and for brainstorming sessions with people who think in terms of visuals rather than words.
Why it's good
It’s pretty straightforward to set up and get started. It’s easy to learn how to do the basics and it works! Also you can export it into other formats.
Problems/downside
Takes time to work out how to share it on the internet and it doesn’t create a ‘pretty’ text friendly version with the layers or levels showing.
Examples to check out (places to play are marked with an *)
The Australian Flexible Learning blog and site web in the Knowledge Tree e-Journal
Marty Cielens’ site showing Open Source tools for teachers
FreeMind - http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Criteria/factors - Cmaps
| Criteria | Comment | |
|---|---|---|
User
friendly |
Yes | Easy to download and set up and a reasonable help feature. |
Push or pull in kind |
Pull | You need to access it to use it. |
Low or high interaction with participants/facilitators |
Not sure yet | You’re supposed to be able to share them and work on them together – not sure how yet. |
Synchronous or asynchronous activity, |
Asynchronous | See above. |
Facilitator skills of a low or high
level |
Low to medium | Just need to be able to add in text and structure maps. |
Participant skills of a low or high
level |
Low to medium | Low to read and navigate. Medium to add comments, create new ‘boxes’. |