You single click on the link and a small box opens up containing the title of the resource (or a list if there are more than one) then you click on the name in the box. But that is not how you open a link in CMAP Tools. The first assumption I made was to double click the link, but nothing happens, I suspect that many people would do the same when first taking a look at the program. Unfortunately this is not very obvious from the documentation, I found it by messing about with the program. Once the resource is attached there is the problem of how to use that resource. To add a resource you either right click on a node and select the ‘Add & Edit links to resources …’ option from the context menu or just drag a file into the CMAP Tools window and drop it on a node. All the examples in the documentation refer to image files, but other types of resource can also be attached to nodes. CMAP Tools allows floating topics and annotations. Nodes and maps can be nested within other nodes but this is not the same as linking to a different map, the sub map can be expanded and folded away as needed.Īs well as looking at the content of your map as a map you may also view it as an outline. Compendium’s system where all the sub maps are part of the same database is the better way to do this. Nodes can link to other CMAPs (in a similar way to Compendium) which is useful in splitting subject matter into neat bundles, however each new map is a different file which can lead to a proliferation of files. You extend the sheet by trying to drag something past the edge of the sheet, the sheet just grows to accommodate it. You can have multiple maps on one sheet, the sheet is extremely large, I kept placing nodes further and further out but I was unable to find the limits of the sheet. The links do have linking phrases and these can be linked to, so links can split and combine. Mind maps generally do not have link phrases.ĬMAP Tools can do both mind maps and cognitive maps but cognitive maps are easier to construct with this software. Sentences can be implied by the concepts and their linking phrases. Concept maps can have descriptions associated with their links to define the relationship between the nodes being connected. Mind maps are arranged as a tree hierarchy whilst concept maps are a network. However having laid out your map you can get the program to re-arrange it for you but once the program has re-arranged your map the only way back is to manually drag everything back to the way it was, undo doesn’t work for the layout.Ĭoncept maps are similar to mind maps but they have a different emphasis and use. The placement of nodes in CMAP Tools is completely manual. CMAP Tools is probably better at fast layout and capture of ideas but VUE is more expressive. I have not received any spam E-mail from IHMC.ĬMAP Tools is a good program but in my opinion for individual use VUE is even better. A portable version is also available which can run from a USB memory stick.ĬMAP Tools is free to download but you must first provide your details and a valid E-mail address. There are versions of CMAP Tools for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. Compendium is the next best and it’s multi user facilities are not as good although it comes close in my opinion. Of all the programs reviewed here this one probably has the best facilities for supporting multiple users. It also has facilities for placing annotations on the map, making suggestions and setting up discussion threads (similar to a bulletin board or forum) to facilitate communications between separate users/viewers of the same map. There are several public servers which can store your CMAPs so that they might be shared with others and IHMC provides the server software so that you can set up your own private server so that maps may be shared within an organisation.ĬMAP Tools when used with the server software supports simultaneous collaborative editing of maps so that several people can edit the same map at the same time. In the documentation there is a heavy emphasis on collaboration and the sharing of maps. CMAP Tools is a concept mapping program from IHMC (the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition) in Florida.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |