Compendium from OpenLearn: FREE Mindmapping Software

What’s on Your Mind Now?

Mindmapping, visually presenting the association of concepts and ideas, is a great way to get those racing thoughts from your head out where you can see them, organize them, and begin to work with them. It’s easy enough to do with a pencil and paper, but pencils and paper can be limiting. They require that you have an eraser and paper strong enough to stand up to changes you might make.

Mindmaps also have more formal uses. They make great visuals for explaining concepts. Within the structure of a single mindmap, such as this one (click to enlarge) —

— you can lay out a complex concept for a business presentation.

Until now, the problem has been that to use mindmapping in that fashion required expensive software.

Thanks to OpenLearn that’s changed! Turn the page to learn about Compendium — It’s FREE!

Compendium from OpenLearn

Improbulus at A Consuming Experience has alerted us to OpenLearn’s Compendium Mindmapping Software. OpenLearn is the Lab Space and the website of the UK’s Open University. Open Learn provides the courseware and materials to support Open U’s adult distance learning, continuing education offerings.

There’s no need to enrol, in complete generosity, Open University via OpenLearn has made Compendium downloads available for everyone. They offer versions for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. (It requires Java, but Java is provided.) OpenLearn also supports Compendium with tutorials.

Improbulus has this to say.

I’ve installed it but haven’t played much with it yet. It seems to have a decent number of keyboard shortcuts, one of my main personal requirements, at least – yay! More if/when I’ve tinkered further with it. But it’s free, so do give it a go if you’re looking for “knowledge mapping”, “concept mapping” or mind mapping tools. (There’s also other free open source software for mindmapping available, e.g. Freemind, also for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux – I’ve downloaded it myself but again not had a chance to compare them yet).

Improbulus has one of the best minds on the Internet.

I downloaded it myself and played with it. I only had to complete one tutorial to know my way around. The software is intuitive and easy to manipulate. In fact, I found it less cumbersome than its more expensive, commercial “older brother.”

What’s not to like about free and recommended? How might you put Compendium to use the next time you have something complex to explain?

–ME “Liz” Strauss