Freeplane
Freeplane
Freeplane is a mind mapping or concept mapping open source software, and is actively developed. Concept mapping or Mind mapping was developed by Prof. JD Novak for learning purposes. Teachers can use it to teach and students can use it for structured learning. The official website of Freeplane is at https://www.freeplane.org/ .
In a concept map, the ideas or concept is presented visually in a connected fashion with fewer words. The visual representation helps to bring about better understanding and learning. Ideas and concepts can be arranged hierarchically or otherwise and can be connected with a line. It is a useful software for brain storming. Properties of Each node can be formatted as desired.
Learning resources such as notes, text, image, web page hyperlink, audio or video can be attached to nodes. Icons and formatting can make the nodes visually stand out in a map. They can be tailor made to the level of learner’s understanding. Teachers can share the learning materials, as a map or in other formats. A structured text document or note can be converted to map or vice versa. A map can be presented as a slide presentation for students. Groovy scripts can be run on Freeplane interface, which allows automation. Users can script conditional styles for nodes for uniformity across maps or subjects as desired per user specification.
Further, Freeplane has ability to function as an organizer software. Freeplane allows date and time to be associated with nodes along with reminder. Users are reminded of tasks to be completed. Information or nodes can be split or merged and attributes can be added to nodes. History of the map can be tracked, as in an organizer software. The properties of the map are adaptable to user requirements alsong with scriting.
User forums are available to reach out to Freeplane users. Learners can ask doubts, questions, report bugs and contribute via forums. Many add-ons are available for Freeplane for getting-things-done (GTD) module, for learning and teaching purposes and more. Template maps and Groovy example scripts are also available for users. Please visit the official site for up-to-date information on this software.
Contributors, Content Editors and Reviewers
The Freeplane Spoken Tutorial is put together by Dr. Rani PV from IIT Bombay. Dr. Pranita Gopal contributed as the domain reviewer. Ms. Madhuri Ganapathi, contributed as an internal reviewer, Ms. Viji Nair is the novice reviewer and Dr. Snehalatha Kaliappan is the administrative reviewer.
Learner: Anyone who want to map their ideas or concepts, as well as Researchers.
Basic Level
1. Introduction to Freeplane
- Download and install Freeplane 1.7.10 on Ubuntu 16.04 OS
- Download and install Freeplane 1.7.10 on Windows 10 OS
- Open a concept map in Freeplane
- Introduction to nodes and child nodes
- About canvas and tool bars
- About Icons and tool panels
- Move the map on the canvas
- Zoom in and zoom out of the map
- Fold and unfold the nodes in the map
2. Nodes and basic commands
- Open a new map
- Edit a root node
- About Edit node core dialog box
- Add a child node
- Add siblings and grandchild nodes
- Open tool panel
- Change color and font formatting
- About node levels and styles
- Move a node in the canvas
- Save the concept map
3. Linking line and floating node
- Link two nodes in the map
- Write on the linking line
- Format linking line properties
- Change the node shape
- Add cloud to a node
- Change cloud shape and color
- Add a floating node
- Position the floating node in the map
- Add a table to a node
- Format a table
4. Adding Resources
- About attributes
- Add attribute to a node
- Create a hyperlink in node
- About in-line addition of hyperlink
- Add image to a node
- Resize the image
- Attach a pdf file to a node
- Learn about export options for the map
- Export the map to xhtml format
- About clickable html file
5. Concept Maps in Teaching and Learning
- Add a note to a node
- About icon toolbar
- Add an icon to a node
- Copy text from another program to the map
- Merge nodes
- Import a directory structure
- Hyperlink files from the imported directory to the map
- Import a concept map
- Learn about different ways of importing a map
- Import concept map with and without root node
Intermediate Level
6. Structured Text to Map Conversion
- Number nodes
- Change node position and renumber nodes
- Number nodes and convert map to text
- About structured text
- About Title, subtitle and text body in a structured document
- Import map as structured text with node numbering
- Import map as structured text without node numbering
- Create a map from structured text
- Change node hierarchy
- About few issues in the software during text-map conversion
7. Slide Presentation
- Create a Spotlight
- Create a slide presentation
- Add slides and slide contents
- Rearrange the slides
- Play the slideshow
- Export the slides as images
8. Time Manager and Reminder
- Time management
- Associate date with node
- Adding many reminders to a node or a map
- Set an alarm
- Reset alarm
Advanced Level
9. Conditional Styles
- Create a user defined node style
- Apply a user created style to a node
- Automatically change node style
- Create use defined map style
10. Groovy Scripting in Freeplane
- Learn about runnig groovy script in Freeplane
- Write simple groovy scripts
- Add the script to Freeplane scripts folder
- Run groovy script in the Freeplane interface
- Add multiple child nodes using script
- Add a hyperlink using script
