This function allows one to record and play back each of the steps of map construction, labeling and identifying each contributor, thus allowing learners to be actively engaged in the “meaning building” metacognition process. Another important option I have used for assessment and feedback is the recorder feature of CmapTools. As an option in the individual construction of the map, Cmap students can also collaborate through a “knowledge soup” that enables them to share propositions without showing each other their maps, thus encouraging the participation of each and every student. The concept maps built using CmapTools can be stored on servers, creating a digital portfolio that is a product of the learning, thus enabling evaluation of student performance. In this way they may share and publish their concept maps on the Internet, link resources, and search the World Wide Web for information related to the map. Participating individuals can be in the same room or anywhere in the world since the maps can be built synchronously or asynchronously, thus allowing users to collaborate at distance. Also, it has been useful in challenging students to collaborate in the construction of a collective concept map, thus enabling the visualization of the changes during the progress of their work. I have used this software in conjunction with a datashow in lectures as a diagnostic tool to measure learners’ previous knowledge structures. There is a tutorial page that can help users to start their navigation in the software. This software is user-friendly, and enables users to create maps that can link resources to specific concepts through a simple drag-and drop operation, such as text, PowerPoint presentations, photos, videos, graphs, websites, and even other concept maps. This cartography of hierarchical statements allows better communication between experts and learners. In fact, this software demands linking words, thus enabling the construction of propositions that form meaningful statements called semantic units. It allows the construction of concept maps within an Ausubel-Novak cognitive-constructivism framework, where individuals create knowledge by linking new concepts to prior knowledge. Among the many software programs that fulfill the task of constructing digital concept maps, the CmapTools software is one that is available free at and was developed by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). The relationships between concepts are called cross-links.Ĭomputer software programs for concept mapping are better than the “paper and post-it” approach because they allow the user to readily rearrange concepts and linking statements to restructure the map. In concept mapping, one identifies the important concepts from subject matter and describes the relationship between those concepts with linking words. It acts as a tool for meaningful learning by presenting information using a hierarchical tree-like branching structure illustrating the holistic relatedness of ideas. Don't think twice, if you're in need of good concept maps download CmapTools, it's free.A concept map is represented by a visual-spatial network of propositions that represent knowledge structure. Users can then modify text-box shapes, colors, fonts, link shapes, or add a background image and attach resources to each shape. Making a concept map is simple, just insert diagrams by double-clicking on your screen background and drag arrows and lines wherever you want. There are tons of available public servers that will store your maps and all of the attached files associated with it. Also, sharing your concept maps and its resources online is a very useful feature. This allows for interactive diagrams made by this tool that allows you to interact with content through your browser. What makes CmapTools stand out from the rest is its ability to create online concept maps that include attached files and links to other sites. There are tons of apps out there designed to help you develop concept maps such as DIA (GNU) or InfoRapid KnowledgeMap (Shareware) but not all of them are as practical and fully featured as CmapTools. Concept maps are a phenomenal tool when it comes to explaining complex theories and proposals that are made up of a number of main ideas that relate to others.
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