Mod 3: WiseMapping - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Tool

Name of the tool
WiseMapping


Url of the tool
http://www.wisemapping.com


Primary category of the tool
Critical thinking and problem solving


** Please click the following links to watch screencast version of the review **


#1: http://screencast.com/t/YzJjMDUzNTUt

#2: http://screencast.com/t/ODkzMDFmYz
#3: http://screencast.com/t/NGY2OTczN
#4: http://screencast.com/t/NGFkMTI4


Description of the tool
WiseMapping is a concept and mind mapping diagram tool that is available for free on the Internet. The key functionalities of mind mapping, from creating to archiving and sharing, are provided via the Web interface. Unlike other programs, such as Freemind - the very popular desktop mind map program and iMindMap - a heavyweight mind map software with many bells and whistles, WiseMapping is a simple Web 2.0 version of mind mapping tool. Thus, WiseMapping sticks to its core features of mind mapping: a) create topic nodes with boxes, b) add subtopics under any topic node, c) add subtopics to the topic node, and d) re-arrange the hierarchical structure of the map with drag and drop. The notable Web 2.0 aspects of the WiseMapping are the features that enable users to add a link to the topic node, to add a tag to the mind map for search on the internet, to share your mind map with others via either collaboration or viewing, and to publish your mind map on the Internet via the WiseMapping server. When you publish, you are given three options as to how you might embed your mind map in your document: a) simple url, b) direct url link, c) html code for embedding as iframe tag inside the html file. 


WiseMapping offers only one association between topic nodes: the parent and a child. Children can have only one parent whereas a parent may have many children. However, this simplicity with easy collaborations via the Web is what attracts educators the most as a valuable tool in their teaching situations.


What do you need to know before using this tool?
No particular skills are needed.


What do you need to have before using this tool?
A computer with the Internet connection. Mac users need to use Mozilla-based browser. 


How do you use this tool?
1. Register at http://www.wisemapping.com
2. Watch the video, "WiseMapping in two minutes."
3. Click on "My Wisemaps" link at the upper right hand corner.
4. Click on "Create a new map."
5. Watch the "First Edit" video by clicking the button in the lower left corner.
6. Click on "Shape" icon under the topic menu to determine the shape of the topic node.
7. Click on "Add" icon to create a topic node.
8. Double-click on the node to edit the title of the topic node. 
9. To create a subtopic, add a topic and move it to the parent topic node. Once the parent topic node has at least one subtopic, you can create subtopics by clicking on "Add" or simply by clicking "Enter." When you add a node, it is created under the root topic node.
10. Click on a small circle attached to the node to expand or collapse the subtopics.
11. Click on "Note" icon to attach a note to the topic node.
12. Click on "Tag" icon to create a tag on the map.
13. Click on "Share" icon to invite collaborators or viewers for the map.
14. Click on "Publish" icon to publish the map on the Internet.


Example of WiseMapping
The following example of WiseMapping illustrates how students can use WiseMapping to collaborate on solving math problems on the Web. It has been always difficult to have students think about more than one ideas, let alone collaboration on multiple ideas when solving math problems. With WiseMapping, math teachers can achieve both: multiple perspectives and collaboration. 


The topic nodes on the left illustrate multiple ideas of students. One upper right node is a question node. The node in the lower right corner is the summary node that concludes their effort on the problem. Icons are used to indicate different students working on nodes.


Please click the link below to view the example - only Mozilla Firefox is supported.
ProblemSolving-1


Description of a scenario of how WiseMapping might be used in a teaching environment.
Cooperative or collaborative learning in mathematics has not been as successful as in other subjects. The small group dynamics in mathematics classrooms often lead to peer teaching, dominated by one or two students in the group. Moreover, The two most important activities in mathematics, problem solving and proof do not lend itself to collaboration for many reasons. We often hear from mathematicians and students alike, “I do not remember what exactly went on when I solved the problem,” leaving little room for collaboration. A Web 2.0 tool such as WiseMapping - critical thinking and problem solving, could provide mathematicians and students with an opportunity to make their thought process of problem solving or proving a theorem visible to themselves and others. 


As illustrated in the example of WiseMapping, math instructors can use WiseMapping to help students to expose their ideas to themselves and other students before leaping into a solution phase. This is what makes collaboration in mathematics possible, and WiseMapping is a perfect tool for the task. Consequently, I would use WiseMapping in any teaching scenario in which collaboration or multiple perspectives is a key to learning. I present two specific scenarios.


Scenario #1
I teach one section of low division precalculus each year. My teaching method - let students work on problems alone, let them collaborate on them, and let them present their work to the whole class with minimal lectures - has not been as successful as in my other upper division courses. One particular area of concern is the degree to which they collaborate in the beginning of each class. Firstly, they are not mathematically mature enough to exchange ideas toward a solution. secondly, it is questionable if they worked alone as they were supposed to do so before each class. I would ask students to use WiseMapping to exchange their ideas on the problems within each group. That way, students will be forced to work and share their ideas before each class. As a consequence, I as a teacher expect more lively discussions in class. 


Scenario #2
Another difficult area in college mathematics teaching is to teach students to learn multiple perspectives about problem solving or proof. It should be noted that the two dimensional and nonlinear aspect of WiseMapping is a perfect environment for learning multiple perspectives. Almost all solutions of math problems show the linear, one way only characteristics. It would be very difficult for students to imagine other ways to solve the same problem in such environments. Hence, I would use WiseMapping in challenging problems and projects in my geometry class for educational majors in order to teach them there are always more than one way to do in math. The goal would be to have future teachers think about the challenging problem early on, then share their ideas together so that multiple perspectives are generated and appreciated by themselves.


What are the advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?
Two major advantages of using WiseMapping in teaching mathematics are: a) have students reveal their thought process of problem solving or proof, thus make possible collaboration on developing and sharing ideas toward problem solving or proof.


What are the disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment?
One disadvantage of using this particular tool is the fact that the product is not supported either by the strong non-profit company or by a stable company. There is a chance that the product will cease to exist. Another disadvantage could be not having multiple association types between the nodes. Each node can have only single line of information.