Mind Map
Name of Tool | Website URL | Cost | Download or Web-based | 1 sentence description of the tool |
Mindmeister | Free-with limited abilities. | Web based | An easy to use mind mapping tool with prebuilt templates. |
Description of the Tool
Mindmeister is an online mind mapping site that allows you to create, share and publish maps for any possible topic. It can be used for brainstorming, planning events, creating flowcharts, doing classroom assignments and many other things. Mind mapping is a useful way to put thoughts and ideas to paper and keep them organized for future reference. I grew up drawing spidergrams which is essentially the same thing with a different name. It comes in different versions; I will be using the free version, it will only allow you to have three maps and limited abilities. The paid versions will allow you to import photos, attach documents, export your project, and even chat with collaboration groups in real time while working on the mind map document.
How to Use This Tool
Getting Started: Mindmeister can be found at https://www.mindmeister.com/ or by clicking here. You can create an account with any email address and the basic version is free to all users. After creating an account and logging in you will come to the home page.
From here you will start your first map (Step 1). After you click on the “New Mind Map” button a drop down should appear giving you a selection of map templates to use. For this document we will use the blank template, which allows us to make a custom mind map.
After selecting “blank” a map will appear with only a single center bubble, first we will type in our central idea and branch out from there. To start branching out you will click on the root idea and press the Tab key. This will give you a second smaller bubble called a child, you can add several child bubbles to your project. From the child bubble you can branch out even farther to a sibling bubble by applying the same concept of clicking on the child button and hitting the Tab key.
Customizing: You can change your Mind Map in several different ways. There are several design templates available which changes the whole maps appearance or you can use the side tool bar for smaller adjustments like text size and font, text color, bubble color, and bubble type to make you map more exciting, you can use different colors for each topic or to mark by priority. To choose a pre-designed themes look for the help icon in the top tool bar, this will give you several different choices for your project.
To customize text there is a tool bar on the right-hand side of the screen, if you do not see it click the menu button and it should open up. This is what the tool bar looks like:
The tool bar features are as listed:
This is where you make changes to your text, you can change size, bold and italicize.
Here you can change both the text and background color. If you select the center bubble it gives you a customize option; here you can change your font, and outlines. The far-right button gives you the ability to select an entire branch and put a bubble around it.
This is your color palette while on the paint brush, the middle button allows you to change your bubble shape, and the far right is branch bubble options.
This is where you select whether you want to insert Emoji’s, photos or video.
Based on your #4 selection it gives you options for inserting media. (other than emoji’s you have to purchase a subscription to insert other media.)
This is where your task list, attach button, Insert URL option and add comments buttons are located.
Beyond customizing appearance, some of Mindmeisters features that are very helpful include the ability to invite someone else to work on the document with you (paid version), assign tasks, due dates, completion level, set priority levels, and even set up email reminders for due dates. By selecting the check mark in the bottom section of the it gives you these options. Just click on the bubble you would like to add it to, select it on the tool bar and it will add them. If you click on the advanced link it takes you to a page that will give you the option to email a reminder event for a task. This is helpful especially when working on a group project. Another neat feature is the ability to add comments to any task or topic. In the tool bar locate the menu button and type what you want your bubble to read, press enter.
By the time you are done adding due dates, comments, assigning tasks your bubbles will look like this:
The bottom toolbar on your Mind Map looks like this:
The options on this are the ability to share, manage tasks, set your map up for presentation, view the history of your map, and the help icon. Mindmeister offers flexibility to work in groups if you wanted to, you can share your Mind Map with others via email or some social media. You can invite people to join your project and chat with them in the paid version, since I did not pay for it I cannot offer much guidance on that topic. To share your map locate the share icon and click it.
The above menu will pop-up giving you several different sources to share your map whether it be by email or social media its pretty easy to do, but not all the options are available on the free version. The Manage Tasks icon is the checkmark and allows you to assign task in a similar fashion as done from the side tool bar. The slideshow icon is to set up a presentation, click that icon and this menu will pop-up:
It gives you some options for your slideshow and goes to each branch of your presentation, you can choose the auto-create which is what is seen above you can choose your own sections and sequence you would like it shown. You can change the transition type and speed, but to export it out you will need the paid version. The view history section allows you to see all the changes one by one and in a shared document see who made what changes. Each dot is a step in the process, you can click on one and it will explain the change.
The last icon I will explain is the view tutorials/help button. This will bring up a menu with different tutorial links that will further explain the things I have shown you, there are video demonstrations describing all the tool bars.
After completing your map you can export it to several different formats and print them but these features are only available with the paid versions. With the free version the only way to present my maps is to share or take a screen shot. Mindmeister has a bunch of tutorial videos available on the bottom of the log in page that explains mind mapping and how it can be helpful to the learner.
How Can This Tool be Used by the Trainer/Teacher?
Mindmeister can be used by the teacher/trainer for multiple things. In every class we present there are many different topics and things to consider, you can make branches for content, classroom supplies that will be needed, lesson planning, and any aids you may need. From those branches you can connect them to maps, deeper covering the topics if needed. This brainstorming will easily help you organize a plan. No need for ten sheets of paper to jot notes so you can keep topics separate, trying to write a side note as small as you can on the side of your paper to connect or add to a thought, or fumbling through a notebook looking for that one line on how many students you need to make copies for. It will all be mapped out in an easy to read format that can be added to at any time. There is a mobile version available so if an idea strikes you at a Dr. appointment you don’t have to try to find a piece of paper to write it down, or make a memo in your phone, it can be added to your map right away.
How Can This Tool be Used by the Trainer/Teacher to Support Student Learning?
Teachers/trainers can also use it for evaluations, whether it be on employees or students it can be an easy way to keep notes on progress, goals, and track completion. You can put objectives into different child bubbles and elements of those objectives into sibling bubbles, from there you can add dates, completion levels or notes on progress. This is an easy way to track progress and see where they need to focus more, with the use of icons you can put a red check in an area they are struggling in or a green one for a completed objective.
How Can This Tool be Used by Students?
Mindmeister can be used in the classroom with the learners in many ways. Students learn better when they are engaged and have some input on the topic. If a teacher were to open a mind map on a topic and have the students add input they will have more interaction, experience verbal learning and auditory leaning. By listening to other learners’ thoughts and discussing them while watching them be inserted into a mind map it becomes more implanted in their memories. In a classroom where computers are provided students can break into groups and do the same thing.
Mindmeister can be used by students in a number of ways to help them organize their thoughts. In group brainstorming it make adding topics easy, in the paid version they can work together on the same map from home, and its easy to edit, add deadlines or just make a note on something for the other to see. In the paid versions they can edit and work on it from home creating a team environment and encouraging collaboration.
Mind mapping can be an easy way for a student to start a stressful assignment, it will help them organize their thoughts into an easy to read format that breaks it down for them. Let’s take this assignment on a paper to explain our tech tool, I was a little freaked out because there is so much to talk about. So, I used my tool and broke each topic down into a child bubble, and sibling bubbles from there, before I knew it I had my sections knocked out and organized. Now all I had to do was put it into words.
Mindmeister can also make doing homework a little creative, by customizing your map and adding pictures, emojis, using fun fonts and colors the student is making something they are proud of and enjoy using.
Mindmeister
This tool can be found at https://www.mindmeister.com/ or by clicking here. I am going to display the mind map I used in creating this document, it is the same one I used I the opening of my paper.
Training and Other Resources
Mindmeister has a lot of tutorials on their website as well as a mind map they created to guide you through building your own. After you log in and get to the main page there will be a button called my maps, and listed underneath will be one that reads “My First Mind Map.”
This will open up the premade map that has all the mind map topics on it as well as links to tutorials.
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