Mind maps: building, editing and switching views
Computer ScienceDigital ApplicationsAges 12–13
Use it with your class: students open it from a link or a QR code, with no account needed.
Next in Digital Applications
A mind map drawn on canvas: the main topic sits at the centre, level-1 branches spread out evenly around it, and level-2 branches attach to their parent branch. Students click a branch to select it, then add a child branch, delete a branch, or drag a branch to a new spot; the node count, level-1 branch count and depth update instantly. A view toggle shows that the same hierarchical structure can be drawn as a diagram or written as an indented list.
Lesson: Mind maps: organizing and presenting information as a hierarchical structure
What it shows
A mind map is a tree: one central topic, level-1 branches for the main ideas and deeper branches for details. The model counts the nodes, the level-1 branches and the depth, the number of levels below the centre, so students can describe a structure precisely. Because every branch hangs from exactly one parent, deleting a branch removes its whole subtree. The same hierarchy can be drawn radially or written as an indented list, which is how outlines, file folders and tables of contents store it.
How to use
Pick a Sample topic and set the Initial number of level-1 branches. Students select a branch, type a name and press Add child branch, or press Delete branch, watching the node count and depth update; dragging a branch only changes the layout. Switch between Diagram view and List view to compare two presentations of the same structure. Finish by asking students to add their own ideas and justify the level at which each one sits.
Parameters you can change
- Sample topic Effective studying, Class field trip, Environmental protection
- Initial number of level-1 branches 3–8 branches
- Open level-2 branches by default
- Display style Diagram view, Hierarchical list view
- Show structure statistics
Questions to explore
- Why does the main topic sit at the centre, and what belongs on the level-1 branches?
- Which actions change the depth of the map, and why does dragging a branch not change it?
- When is the indented list view more useful than the diagram view?
