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Concept Mapping

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I recently underwent a crash course in Concept Mapping. I've always been accustomed to CMap anyway, I started using it in my first year of my undergraduate Accounting degree. We were tasked by our Information Systems lecturer (Mrs. Lydia Kimani) to explore CMap by developing a concept map for some topic (I can barely even remember). My supervisor (Mr. Daniels) went over CMap with us again, and I decided once more to actually use the tool.


CMap Tools (Home Page CMAP)

The fact that CMap was not created for the purposes of brainstorming and mind mapping but rather for an in depth explanatory session of certain concepts that only an expert or a knowledgeable person may be able to explain. Even though its main focus is to provide a platform for easy conceptualization of ideas or concepts, it has a vast range of tools within the the platform. One would expect the platform to only be useful when it comes to text, and not in essence take over the work of PowerPoint or Keyword-but that in fact is not the case. The tool aims to enhance PowerPoint (Windows) or Keyword (MacIntosh) presentation by providing a systematic and easy to understand presentations of concepts.

I personally liked the fact that the tool allowed for various media files and other document files to be loaded on to the CMap file being created. It allows videos to be played, pictures to be viewed, PowerPoint/Keyword presentations to be embedded, and a lot numerous multimedia activities. The part I really liked the most is actually exporting the file into what ever file format you need it to be, be it .txt or .pdf files.
IHMC Public Cmaps

So, if you are in research, trying to put a presentation together, trying to conceptualize that thick textbook or basically need to break down a concept to fellow colleagues or students-I strongly suggest you use CMap.
PS: I'll upload a video on CMap soon :)

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