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Concept maps can be an effective way of creating a text resource that can be organized in the form of a map or tree of ideas. It provides a pictorial overview of the concepts, related concepts / sub-concepts for a topic.  In the map, you can  link to additional resources, add annotations, graphically organize ideas through links etc. Concepts acquire power and meaning when they are connected to other concepts. Hence, organizing the concepts relevant to your topic is an important first step of generic resource creation. Concept mapping can be used to build skills in students for ideating and organizing ideas; you can use it for your teaching. It is a great tool to help organize your thought processes when writing.

Concept maps can be an effective way of creating a text resource that can be organized in the form of a map or tree of ideas. It provides a pictorial overview of the concepts, related concepts / sub-concepts for a topic.  In the map, you can  link to additional resources, add annotations, graphically organize ideas through links etc. Concepts acquire power and meaning when they are connected to other concepts. Hence, organizing the concepts relevant to your topic is an important first step of generic resource creation. Concept mapping can be used to build skills in students for ideating and organizing ideas; you can use it for your teaching. It is a great tool to help organize your thought processes when writing.

Freeplane is a FOSS application that can be used to create concept maps (image 8); in this section you will learn to use of Freeplane.

Freeplane is a FOSS application that can be used to create concept maps (image 1); in this section you will learn to use of Freeplane.

[[File:Conceptmap1.png|400x450px|thumb|left|Image 8 - Creating a concept map using Freeplane]]

[[File:Conceptmap1.png|400x450px|thumb|left|Image 1 - Creating a concept map using Freeplane]]

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==== Learning to use Freeplane ====

==== Learning to use Freeplane ====

==== Creating a map ====

==== Creating a map ====

To learn working with Freeplane, you should first develop a concept map for any topic you want to develop a resource on. When you open Freeplane, the application  opens a window with a box containing the  text "New mindmap".  This node, also called the "root node" will contain the core idea/ theme of the resource.  Additional ideas are added by adding more nodes, called child nodes.  The concept map gets built by adding further child nodes, for topics and sub-topics.  Use the ‘insert’ key to create a ‘child node’ this is a sub-concept of your current concept. Use the ‘enter’ key to create a ‘sibling’ this is a parallel concept to your current concept. Thus you can create a concept map  

To learn working with Freeplane, you should first develop a concept map for any topic you want to develop a resource on. When you open Freeplane, the application  opens a window with a box containing the  text "New mindmap".  This node, also called the "root node" will contain the core idea/ theme of the resource.  Additional ideas are added by adding more nodes, called child nodes.  The concept map gets built by adding further child nodes, for topics and sub-topics.  Use the ‘insert’ key to create a ‘child node’ this is a sub-concept of your current concept. Use the ‘enter’ key to create a ‘sibling’ this is a parallel concept to your current concept. Thus you can create a concept map  

(image 9) with knowing just two functions – add child node (insert) and add sibling node (enter). The ideas you have about the topic, the sequencing of ideas and sub concepts, the specific points for each idea / sub-concept can be developed on the map.

(image 2) with knowing just two functions – add child node (insert) and add sibling node (enter). The ideas you have about the topic, the sequencing of ideas and sub concepts, the specific points for each idea / sub-concept can be developed on the map.

[[File:Conceptmap2.png|left|thumb|400x450px|Image 9 - Creating the node tree for a concept map]]

[[File:Conceptmap2.png|left|thumb|400x450px|Image 2 - Creating the node tree for a concept map]]

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==== Hyperlinking files and weblinks to any node on your concept map ====

==== Hyperlinking files and weblinks to any node on your concept map ====

You can embed a hyper-link on a node, such that clicking that node will open a page on the Internet or a file on your computer (image 11). This connects a node on your map to related resources you may want the reader to access. You can also use the keyboard short cut CTRL-K to insert a web-link and SHIFT-CTRL-K to insert a link to a file on your computer.  Freeplane will open an input bar (image 11), in which you can type in the address. The link is indicated by a red arrow inside the node.

You can embed a hyper-link on a node, such that clicking that node will open a page on the Internet or a file on your computer (image 3). This connects a node on your map to related resources you may want the reader to access. You can also use the keyboard short cut CTRL-K to insert a web-link and SHIFT-CTRL-K to insert a link to a file on your computer.  Freeplane will open an input bar (image 3), in which you can type in the address. The link is indicated by a red arrow inside the node.

[[File:COL_-_Type_the_hyperlink_in_Concept_map.png|left|thumb|400x450px|Image 11 - Inserting hyper-link in a concept map]]

[[File:COL_-_Type_the_hyperlink_in_Concept_map.png|left|thumb|400x450px|Image 3 - Inserting hyper-link in a concept map]]

==== Adding notes and note window ====

==== Adding notes and note window ====

To add a note to a node, you can click on the node, go to View--->Notes--->Display note panel; this will open a window in which you can type your notes (image 13).You can change the position and size of this note window using your mouse.  

To add a note to a node, you can click on the node, go to View--->Notes--->Display note panel; this will open a window in which you can type your notes (image 4).You can change the position and size of this note window using your mouse.  

The 'notes' feature allows you to provide detailed explanations, examples etc to any concept in the map. This can help you detail out your thinking on a concept. Freeplane displays a yellow label in the node, for which you have added a note.

The 'notes' feature allows you to provide detailed explanations, examples etc to any concept in the map. This can help you detail out your thinking on a concept. Freeplane displays a yellow label in the node, for which you have added a note.

[[File:Conceptmap3.png|none|thumb|450x450px|Image 13 - Notes can be added to nodes]]   

[[File:Conceptmap3.png|none|thumb|450x450px|Image 4 - Notes can be added to nodes]]   

These are some basic functionalities of Freeplane. For more advanced functions, you should refer to the User Manual for the application. The Freeplane tutorial is available within Freeplane itself, which you can access any time by pressing the F1 function key. ''The tutorial itself is a concept map, and you should browse this concept map, not only to get help that you may require, but also as a lesson on how a concept map can communicate so much information in such a simple manner!''

These are some basic functionalities of Freeplane. For more advanced functions, you should refer to the User Manual for the application. The Freeplane tutorial is available within Freeplane itself, which you can access any time by pressing the F1 function key. ''The tutorial itself is a concept map, and you should browse this concept map, not only to get help that you may require, but also as a lesson on how a concept map can communicate so much information in such a simple manner!''

==== Saving the file ====

==== Saving the file ====

By default your concept map is saved by Freeplane as a '.mm' format file (image 16).However, the concept map can be saved in many other formats. You can export the map to a text document file (in .odt or .doc formats). You can also export the map as an image (in .png or .jpeg formats) or as a web page (in .html format)(image 17).  The images (image 16, 17)  show you how to save and export concept maps in Freeplane. While saving the file, Freeplane will display the file browser, to allow you to select the folder in which you can save your file. By default, the file is saved in your home folder.

By default your concept map is saved by Freeplane as a '.mm' format file (image 5).However, the concept map can be saved in many other formats. You can export the map to a text document file (in .odt or .doc formats). You can also export the map as an image (in .png or .jpeg formats) or as a web page (in .html format)(image 6).  The images (image 5, 6)  show you how to save and export concept maps in Freeplane. While saving the file, Freeplane will display the file browser, to allow you to select the folder in which you can save your file. By default, the file is saved in your home folder.

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|[[File:COL-saving_freeplane.png|thumb|400x450px|Image 16 - Saving a concept map in Freeplane|left]]

|[[File:COL-saving_freeplane.png|thumb|400x450px|Image 5 - Saving a concept map in Freeplane|left]]

|[[File:COL_Freeplane_export.png|thumb|400x450px|Image 17 - Saving / exporting a Freeplane concept map in multiple formats]]

|[[File:COL_Freeplane_export.png|thumb|400x450px|Image 6 - Saving / exporting a Freeplane concept map in multiple formats]]

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