Introduction to Concept Maps and CmapTools for Teachers

James Gorman, M.S.

Science Education Consultant

134 Millbury Ave.

Millbury, MA 01527

508-864-3409

jms.gorman@gmail.com

2009

Table of Contents

Installing CmapTools Software	3

Getting Started with CmapTools	3

Using CmapTools	3

An Overview	3

Create a Cmap	4

Add Resources to Concepts	4

Search for Concepts and Resources	6

Installing CmapTools Software

The most current version of the software can be downloaded from http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/

Installing on personal computer

use the “Typical” setting

Installing on NHS computer

double-click on the CmapTools icon under Network Applications

Getting Started with CmapTools

A multitude of methodologies exist on how to begin creating your concept maps utilizing CmapTools. Some ways would include:

Explore! Simply go to the pull-down menus and search through the options. All the software capabilities can be accessed employing this strategy.

Take a guided tour. A tutorial was created by staff at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and is available via the web at: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/xythoswfs/webui/simonec/public/Learning%20Objects/CmapTools?action=frameset&subaction=print&uniq=-28ctbb

Open the CmapTools Basics folder.

Click on CmapTools Basics.htm

Make sure your sound is “ON.”

Trial and Error.

Double-click to add your first concept

Go to the Help Menu and scroll for the section that addresses the function you wish to perform.

Direct instruction. Follow the steps listed below which is the Help Menu but in a more developmentally sequenced approach)

Using CmapTools

An Overview

When the software is loaded two windows will appear.

Views – CmapTools is the organizational hub. This is where you can gain access to cmaps on your hard drive and CmapServers (known as “Places”)on the Internet. You can access these various Places by pressing the buttons on the left-hand side of the window.

Cmaps in My Computer is the default choice. At this location, you will create your own cmaps

Shared Cmaps in Places is where you can make your cmaps accessible to others via a remote server.

Favorites will let you mark your favorite cmaps.

History will record the cmaps you've visited and edited.

Untitled 1 is a blank concept map that the program launches automatically.

Create a Cmap

Open a new cmap

From the “Views – CmapTools” window, select File then New Cmap. Alternatively, Ctrl+n works also.

Add a Concept

Double-click anywhere in Cmap window. This brings up a highlighted box labeled with “????.”

Type in your concept.

Click outside the box to set the concept label.

Create a Proposition

From One Concept

With a concept highlighted, click on the arrows above the concept.

Drag the cursor to the desired position for the new concept. You will notice line extending from the concept to the cursor.

Left-click again to create the next concept and linking phrase between them.

The linking phrase will be highlighted, simply type you linking phrase.

Then highlight the new concept and type a label.

From Existing Concepts (connecting two concepts)

Left-click on the concept that you want to start the new proposition. This highlights the concept.

Left-click on the arrows that appear.

Drag the cursor to the other concept that you wish to connect.

Left-click on the concept to link the two.

The linking phrase will then be highlighted, just enter a label.

Save Your New Cmap

Click on File in the Cmap window.

Select Save As from the menu.

A dialog box will appear and this is where you will be able to enter the name and focus question for the cmap.

Chose the location where you would like to save the map. “My Cmaps” will save the cmap on your computer. To learn how to share it with other see the ????? section below.

Add Resources to Concepts

A resource can be any sort of digital media (images, documents, URLs, audio, and video)

Drag in Resources onto a Concept – the easiest way to add resources. Although, if the resource is dragged from outside of the “Views – CmapTools” window it will be saved in the folder as the cmap. As good file keeping it is generally best to import or drag a resource onto the “Views – CmapTools” window and into a folder specifically labels “Resources.”

Click & hold on any resource whether on your desktop, hard drive, or on a CmapServer

Drag the resource over the appropriate concept

Release the mouse button.

The “Edit Resource Link” window will appear.

If the resource is an image, you have the option to chose whether the image will be displayed as the background for the concept or to add it as a link at the bottom of the concept.

Label field – This is the label shown underneath the concept. It automatically has the file name entered although can be modified for clarity if needed.

Group field – This is the icon at the bottom of the concept which the label will be displayed in. It automatically determined by resource type although can be changed.

Resource name – This is the name used to save the resource within the “Views – CmapTools” window.

Resource type – This control how CmapTools will load the resource. It is determined automatically.

More Info – This section is where the user can add additional information for clarity and sharing with other users.

Clip Art – this can be checked if the resource is an image and allows for resizing of the image.

Description – This is a more detailed description than the label and is displayed when the user hovers over the label.

Keywords – Each keyword should be separated by commas. They are used to when searches are performed.

Language – The language of the resource is English by default but can be changed.

Click OK when down and the resource will appear in the “Views – CmapTools” window. If it was not already there. An icon will also appear at the bottom of the concept.

Import Resources to the “Views – CmapTools” Window

From the “Views – CmapTools” window, click on File.

Select Add Resources....

The “Add Resources” window will appear.

Use the folder navigation tool to manually find the resource.

Click to select the resource. (If adding multiple resources, click the “+” to “Show Resource List.”)

Click Add.

If you are adding a single resource then an “Edit Resource Properties” window will appear else you will be able to edit the resource properties by double clicking on the resource list.

Resource name - This is the file name that will be used. It automatically has the file name entered although can be modified for clarity if needed.

Resource type – This control how CmapTools will load the resource. It is determined automatically.

More Info – This section is where the user can add additional information for clarity and sharing with other users.

Clip Art – this can be checked if the resource is an image and allows for resizing of the image.

Description – This is a more detailed description than the label and is displayed when the user hovers over the label.

Keywords – Each keyword should be separated by commas. They are used to when searches are performed.

Language – The language of the resource is English by default but can be changed.

Click OK when down and the resource will appear in the “Views – CmapTools” window.

Add or Edit Resource to a Concept

In an open Cmap, right-click on a concept.

Select Add & Edit Links to Resources.

An “Edit Resource Properties” window will appear as above. It operates in the same manner.

Managing Resource Groups Attached to Concepts

Right-click on a group at the bottom of a concept.

From this list you can Copy, Cut, or Delete the whole group.

If you copy or cut a group you can paste it to another concept by right-clicking on the othe concept and selecting Paste.

Search for Concepts and Resources

Obtaining Suggestions for Additional Concepts – Once one or more concept have been enter into a cmap, CmapTools has a suggester tool.

Click on the Suggestions icon (a yellow comment bubble) on the right hand-side of cmap window.

The Suggestions console opens.

Click on the blue circular arrows to obtain a list of suggestions. These will be relative to the latest concepts entered into the cmap.

Click on the red light next to the blue arrows. A green light will appear and signifies that CmapTools will automatically suggest new concepts as the cmap grows.

To use one of the suggestions, drag the suggestion into the cmap window.

Search for Cmaps, Resources, and Web Addresses – These operations can be performed from an open cmap window.

Select a concept or several concepts on the cmap.

Click the Tools menu.

Select Search.

Decide what type of resource(s) you desire to search for and select it.

Press the Search button.

A list of search result will appear.

Double-click on a resource to view it.

Drag a resource from the “Search” window onto a concept which will create a link between the two.