Using Lucidchart for Mind Mapping and Graphic Organizers

A while back, I wrote a blog named: 5 Really Cool Google Apps Related Resources for the Classroom. In that post, I mentioned Lucidchart.  Lucidchart is a great resource for mindmapping and creating graphic organizers. It can be used in Google Apps. Other options for mindmapping and graphic organizers are Google Drawings and MindMeister. I like Google Drawings for a lot of reasons, but prefer Lucidchart for the structure it provides in creating these types of resources. In regards to MindMeister, I simply know Lucidchart better and feel more comfortable talking about it than MindMeister.

I have used Lucidchart for a few reasons relating to my work both as an educator and as a student. The program can be used to map out and illustrate relationships and dynamics. I did this during a Rwandan Genocide unit. Here is a link to a simple version of one of the graphics: Hotel Rwanda Graphic. I have a few of these with slight variations because I have the students create them as a class during a class discussion to deepen their understanding of the information.

Informative illustrations can also be created using Lucidchart to be later embedded into an article or project. An example can be seen to the left. It illustrates the elements of instructional design.

I should add that I created this illustration before I was familiar with Google Drawings and it would have worked at least just as well in that program.

Ludidchart can also be used to organize various concepts as seen in this example from my research on online teacher professional development.

There are other mind mapping and graphic organizer programs besides the ones mentioned in this post. Which ones do you use? How do you like them? Let me know in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter @JoshuaElliott3 for more tips and ideas.