What is Concept Map and How to Create One?

Have you ever confronted hassle currently whereas making sense of your concepts after a mind dumping session?

Say sure, and also you would possibly want an idea map maker!

Whether or not you might be an aspiring scholar or a enterprise proprietor, an idea map may help you. The reason being that concepts hold flowing on one’s head, after which it turns into important to seize them and interpret significant info out of it to leverage it additional.

Whereas a lot of you’ve an excellent behavior of capturing your concepts in journals, simply accumulating them received’t assist. It’s essential correlate issues and carve info that is sensible to an concept or idea which may be processed extra so as to add worth in your research or enterprise.

Sounds complicated?

Let me simplify it by providing you with an instance.

Suppose, if you realize the programming languages C and C++, it turns into a bit simpler to study Java.

Or,

You probably have expertise driving your automobile in hilly stations, then it turns into simpler to drive in different plain terrains.

What’s the rationale behind it?

Due to your earlier experiences, be it driving, or programming language paves the best way for subsequent issues. When a brand new data integrates and connects with current data, the brand new one turns into simple to know and keep in mind.

An idea map works in the same approach.

Let’s dig deeper into the science of idea mapping and perceive every thing about it.

Historical past of Idea Maps

The credit score for creating idea maps goes to Joseph D. Novak, a analysis scientist and an American Educator, and his staff within the 70s at Cornell College.

Idea maps emerged as the result of their analysis whereas understanding the best way college students grasp fundamental scientific ideas. Of their research, they discovered that solely the interview transcript in detailed codecs was not sufficient for college kids to grasp numerous science ideas.

Therefore, they wanted a greater approach of presenting issues, which finally led them to develop the Idea Map within the yr 1972.

Why must you create and use idea maps?

Idea maps clarify the best way ideas relate to 1 one other, which might be an awesome studying software for anybody. The maps may help you join dots between beforehand earned data and newer ideas to be able to uncover recent relationships.

The hierarchical construction wherein the concepts are organized in a cascading method generally is a potential studying strategy. It may show you how to determine the locations the place your ideas match into the larger image and to plan newer ideas in the course of the course of.

Normally, you should use idea maps to:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Construction your ideas and organize them correctly to carve out significant info
• Set up a relationship between totally different concepts that make sense
• Showcase sub-divisions of an concept
• Summarize and observe taking key ideas
• Create a model new idea
• Visualize an underlying idea
• Discover a resolution to an issue in a artistic fashion.
• Introduce a brand new subject and consider earlier data
• Studying evaluation
• Spotlight the distinction and/or similarity between two ideas

Are Idea maps the identical as Thoughts Maps?

Someplace on the web, you bought to find out about idea mapping and located it may show you how to massive time. All of a sudden, the subsequent article you see talks about thoughts mapping or subject maps.

Now, I guess you have to be confused!

And you’ve got all of the rights to be as a result of it actually appears complicated at first.

However right here’s the factor – they’re totally different.

Let’s learn the way!

Idea map

• It represents a community of a number of interconnected ideas
• Appears extra on the logical aspect
• Nice for mapping one’s data and analyzing the content material hole
• Nodes can have many-to-many relationships
• Straightforward to confirm with connection phrases
• Might be difficult to switch in case it has over 20 nodes
• Emphasizes each the matters and their connections
• Matters might be cross-linked
• Assertion proposition; means each two nodes which can be related with linking phrases kinds a selected sentence

Thoughts Map

• It’s a tree chart the place you’ll be able to manage info
• Appears to offer extra flexibility
• Helpful for brainstorming, fast note-taking, and creating concepts
• Nodes have easy, one-to-one relationships typically
• Non-verifiable
• Modification is simple even with bigger nodes
• Focuses extra on the subject itself
• No cross-linking
• No assertion proposition

How can an idea map show you how to manage your ideas?

Idea maps prolong advantages to each presenters in addition to those that study new info. You may illustrate any type of system like proposing a recent plan, coaching college students, and extra.

Have a look at the other ways an idea map may help you:

Fast interpretation

You may grasp concepts faster by an idea map as in comparison with simply studying it in a ebook or article. It’s as a result of your mind processes info quicker when it’s introduced in a visible format with highlighted key factors and brevity.

Helps in making ready displays

You may create an idea map and manage concepts in a concise and logical format to showcase in your displays. It would solid a deeper impression on the listeners.

Environment friendly analysis of information

As a substitute of choosing a conventional set of questions or multiple-choice assessments, educators can leverage idea maps to guage the data of scholars on a selected subject.

Explains an concept hierarchy

You may showcase the connection between totally different elements in some ways. One of the best factor is that the map follows a hierarchical construction the place you’ll be able to learn information from the highest with explicit info and the way it progresses and interconnects with smaller particulars as you go down the lane.

Boosts staff collaboration

When you’ll be able to symbolize your concepts in a extra complete approach by means of an idea map, folks have a tendency to grasp it extra. Therefore, it turns into simpler for them to collaborate simply on the plan.

Visible representations stimulate mind exercise. And an idea map is all about representing concepts visually in a artistic approach. Therefore, it might probably develop analytical abilities in addition to higher-order pondering abilities. Apart from, it additionally facilitates info processing and recall.

How to attract an idea map?

Select your most well-liked drawing medium

You have got two choices; both you’ll be able to draw the map on a whiteboard or 2D paper utilizing a pen or a software-based software.

Utilizing the software program is relatively simple to create, modify, and fine-tune the diagram. Apart from, it can save you any variety of designs you need on the net itself and are available again later for edits.

Decide the central idea

Establish what the rationale behind creating your idea map is. Strive enthusiastic about a problematic query that must be solved. Give you a query in thoughts which you need to remedy utilizing the idea map.

Primarily based on the query, extract a central idea and write it on the highest.

Establish associated ideas

Record out all of the associated concepts that will assist remedy the issue. Rank them primarily based on how particular or generic they’re.

Describe these sub-concepts briefly, presumably round 1-2 phrases per idea.

Organize components and add linking phrases

Order sub-concepts primarily based on hierarchy. Maintain probably the most generic ones on the high beneath the principle idea. Equally, hold the precise concepts on the backside. Join the concepts with traces and supply a linking phrase for every line, explaining the connection between the nodes.

Examine the ultimate look

Study each factor, whether or not they’re positioned on the right locations. Examine whether or not the linking phrases make sense or not. Discover out whether or not the association is sweet or not. If not, you will discover higher positions to find them.

High-quality-tune every thing, and you’ve got completed with drawing an idea map!

Now, with none extra delay, let’s discover out some on-line platforms to create an idea map so it can save you your vital time and reap different advantages related.

Miro

Are you on a quest to grasp a brand new idea?

Do you need to discover out the connection between advanced concepts?

No matter be the use case, Miro may help you create an exquisite idea map!

Save your time through the use of built-in templates of Miro as an alternative of drawing every thing from scratch. Invite groups for collaboration on the idea map as Miro allows you to have interaction distant and co-located groups by means of a digital whiteboard, which includes no constraints.

You get templates like:

• Lean Canvas the place you’ll be able to define vital factors relating to your online business
• Market segmentation matrix to determine key alternatives for progress
• RACI Matrix to trace accountability whereas guaranteeing significant conversations
• 5-Whys template to determine root reason behind a problem
• Technique diamond template for a strong enterprise technique

Lucidchart

Speed up in the direction of innovation by creating new ideas with Lucidchart.

For studying and instructing, it helps you visualize relations between concepts, notes, or occasions to plan their curriculum, define tasks, and create guides. Its formatting choices are customizable, which supplies management over your map and helps you construct classes and assessments to assist studying.

For companies, use Lucidchart’s idea map generator to create concepts that workers from totally different departments can perceive simply, together with non-techies. Use it to simplify current relationships, discover contradictions and gaps, promote artistic understanding and problem-solving, and extra to generate outcomes.

Their templates are designed as an example ideas clearly and rapidly. You may organize shapes and components by dragging and dropping them whereas connecting the principle subject and different subtopics. Set up concepts with a number of colours to make it extra comprehensible.

You may customise each facet of the map, together with format modification earlier than printing, including screenshots and pictures for a selected message, and extra. Lucidchart options in-editor chatting and real-time updates to construct concepts advised by different contributors.

Lucidchart permits Google Workspace integrations so you’ll be able to keep and entry your map on-line.

Edraw

Brainstorming doesn’t must be boring!

Collect eye-balls by creating lovely idea maps with Edraw.

Get amazed on the numerous templates, shapes, icons, and symbols that it presents. Simply select the weather you need to get began and customise them.

All of the templates that it presents are utterly customizable, printable, and editable. A few of the templates embrace Venn fashion, advertising, cycle, colourful, rectangle, pondering maps, and extra.

You may summarize and manage fragmented data in a selected order utilizing the idea map builder. Facilitate higher communication between two ideas with enticing connectors and linking texts. The highly effective customizability and intuitive interface of Edraw Max allow you to craft high-quality maps.

Should you love engaged on MS Workplace, I guess you prefer to Edraw Max when it comes to usability and interface. It’s user-friendly with a drag and drop function.

Because it has cloud storage and cloud-based collaboration possibility, you’ll be able to work with groups from anyplace, anytime, and utilizing any gadget. Share your work on social media or export the recordsdata in several file codecs like PDF, Microsoft PowerPoint, and totally different picture codecs.

Visme

Do you need to craft an idea map that may clarify advanced matters to your staff?

If sure, Visme may help you try this in minutes.

Its in depth vary of instruments helps you create designs from scratch by together with shapes, connecting traces, arranging them throughout your canvas, so it conveys your messages correctly.

Visme has charming choices for personalisation, which helps you alter the look of every thing inside your drawing. You may decrease or enlarge the shapes, protecting the related traces intact. Get playful with colours to focus on issues, change texts and fonts, and animate the map utilizing the “Actions” tab, which you will discover within the high proper nook.

Visme has pre-made templates, a lot of photographs and icons, and a variety of design components. You may obtain your maps in PDF or picture recordsdata. Generate a shareable hyperlink or embed them on an online web page. Incorporate graphs and charts, and Visualize your figures and statistics utilizing their customizable information widgets.

Creately

The simplicity of Creately makes it simple to visualise your ideas. It has already helped 4+ million folks and 1000’s of groups. With just a little little bit of effort, you’ll be able to manage the weather and visualize them.

Drawing even a extremely advanced idea map is easy, utilizing the superior options of Creately. It presents good shapes, connectors, built-in styling choices, picture imports, and extra. Share your drawings along with your staff to obtain prompt suggestions.

Creately has 1000’s of high-quality templates for quite a lot of conceivable eventualities for advertising, IT, software program, HR, and training groups.  Whether or not you utilize macOS, Home windows, Linux, or Android, you should use Creately with ease. It additionally comes with a 30-day money-back assure so you’ll be able to attempt it with out the concern of dropping your cash.

SmartDraw

The idea map maker by SmartDraw permits you to visualize ideas with out interrupting one’s artistic stream. As quickly as you give you an concept, simply draw a form to the idea map. Maintain including concepts as and when it comes as a result of the idea map is there to edit it anytime.

SmartDraw has clever formatting choices to provide your map knowledgeable look. Get began with easy instructions, add or delete an concept, realign, and organize the shapes simply. You get skilled themes like Greyscale, Everest, Calico, and so forth. the place you’ll be able to apply colours, fonts, and gradients to work as knowledgeable designer.

Insert the maps in your stories; combine them with instruments like Microsoft Workplace, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Field, OneDrive, JIRA, and extra. You may even join the maps to Trello and run conferences to debate extra on the concepts. Convert the maps into Gantt charts immediately with one click on.

All of the adjustments you make on one map robotically displays on the opposite. You have got the choice to share your recordsdata by emailing non-users of SmartDraw with a hyperlink.

Zen Thoughts Map

Zen Thoughts Map is an easy-to-use and easy software for producing idea maps. Its workspace includes no distractions because it avoids sidebars and floating icons.

The user-friendly and minimalist interface of Zen makes it quicker and simpler to design considerate maps. Additionally they have eliminated pointless options cluttering up and making it cumbersome. Make idea maps memorable and fascinating through the use of emojis.

You have got the choice to obtain the PDF file. However, you can even publish a doc reside the place the adjustments made may be mirrored robotically. Totally different templates included are for enterprise planning, OKR administration, problem-solving, essay planning, assigning duties, and advertising.

Mindomo

Construction details about a sure subject by drawing an idea map comprehensively in Mindomo. Give a wider wing to your creativeness by personalizing and customizing your map to its fullest.

Draw every thing from scratch or use any of their templates, together with danger administration, math divisions, fishbone diagram, and extra. You may edit components like arrows and their shade, form, sample, and place.

The high-quality platform permits you to collaborate along with your imply members in real-time to enhance effectivity and preserve time. Modifications mirror immediately, and you can even observe all of the adjustments made utilizing the “Playback historical past”.

Mindomo additionally permits direct chats, so that you don’t must waste time or lose deal with switching tough functions. It has a number of choices to share maps:

• With particular folks
• Solely folks with whom you’ve shared the hyperlink to view
• Solely folks with whom you’ve shared the hyperlink to edit
• Public sharing

In order for you, you’ll be able to convey an idea map into different types of diagrams like Gantt charts, thoughts maps, and descriptions.

Mindomo helps integration with Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard, and extra.

Visible Paradigm On-line

Visible Paradigm On-line or VP On-line comes with a easy software with a drag-and-drop editor that can assist you construct gorgeous idea maps in minutes. Because of its intuitiveness, you don’t must waste time studying the software program; as an alternative, all the eye goes to designing.

Begin creating maps by modifying its totally customizable and free templates for social networking, information analyzing, local weather change, course content material, and extra. It supplies 1700+ templates like these, and all are of top quality.

DesignCap

Haven’t any design expertise, but there’s a must design idea maps?

No worries!

Strive the free idea mapping software program by DesignCap to create superior designs. It has a variety of map examples from nursing, science, biology, mobile respiration, and much more.

All you’ll want to do is select only one template that may meet your necessities and begin exploring. DesignCap presents 1000’s of accessible sources like graphics, design components, and colours, together with highly effective modifying capabilities and fonts.

Stemic

Stemic is an online utility for creating idea maps permitting the person to place his concepts on a digital whiteboard to schematize conditions, points, or issues within the type of a graph.

The free model permits to take notes, manage concepts, join them to one another by drawing hyperlinks like on a classical thoughts map.

However Stemic is not only a brainstorming software!

Stemic pushes the boundaries of the mindmap by permitting customers to explain the objects they manipulate, to categorize them, to outline the character and route of the hyperlinks, and so forth … Thus it helps the person to construct evaluation, to mannequin his data, to construction his thought.

The interface is minimal, the design is refined to be able to spotlight person analyzes. The interactions, fluid and intuitive, have been designed to facilitate information manipulation and assist pondering.

Stemic has additionally a Professional provide for customers wishing to profit from probably the most superior options of the applying together with collaborative modifying of idea maps, copy of a shared map, use of hyperlinks, configurable export (framing, theme, title, and legend) of maps.

Canva

It seems to be like stellar designing is the synonym for Canva!

I imply, this web site has a lot potential for designing quite a lot of issues, from advertising and enterprise supplies to social media and private checklists.

An idea map is one among them.

Canva is the place you get superior flexibility and ease of drawing sensible idea maps for brainstorming, organizing your concepts, and fixing advanced points. They provide 20+ skilled graphs so that you can select together with fantastically designed templates and a number of pre-designed layouts to get began rapidly.

Combine issues up by means of thousands and thousands of illustrations, photographs, vectors, or icons to symbolize your concepts. Customise the templates by altering colours, textual content, or components to make it charming. Canva presents 100s of free fonts to convey your model identification, fashion, and function.

Designer or not, it doesn’t matter!

Use the drag and drop editor to rearrange issues. Embed an idea map in your displays and stories with out being fussy. You may visualize information seamlessly by means of the intuitive interface of Canva, with out having to study advanced software program.

Collaborate along with your groups to get new angles or concepts in your idea by sharing an editable copy of the design the place they’ll add feedback or carry out edits from anyplace on the globe. After you might be completed with the designing half, it can save you it after which obtain, publish, or share your lovely and high-resolution maps.

Conclusion

Organized concepts make it less complicated for learners and even businessmen to know an idea by breaking it in a number of components. Leverage an environment friendly idea mapping software to get began with understanding your matters extra carefully and use the data in your additional studying or enterprise efforts.