Thing 14 Go with the Flow

Thing #14:  Go with the Flow

     In consideration of the differences between flow charts and mind maps, I found myself at a crossroad.  I had never participated in a mind mapping activity and I was at a loss as to what is truly different.  In reviewing the materials provided, I chose to embark on this journey of discovery through the utilization of Gliffy and Bubbl.us.

     The general principle of both format is to form an outline of information that can be easily processed and digested by the general public.  Although both flowcharts and mind maps may seem very similar upon one's initial glance, the conceptional framework is actually more diverse.  Flowcharts, as utilized in Gliffy, utilize a myriad of alternative shapes, colors, designs and images to portray relationships between outlined components.  There are a myriad of options in creating flowcharts, and the overall design is directly managed by the user and it is easily manipulated.  I actually chose this site so that I could utilize the SWOT analysis software. However after muptliple attempts to download the software... I was unsucessful in retrieving the software component. 

     The major deviation between  a general flowchart and mind mapping was witnessed via the utilization of Bubbl.us.  Mind mapping is a learning technique that applies visuals and color/shape combinations to outline concepts or ideas.  As learning takes place in real time, it is imperative to have a software program that is responsive and easy to connect concepts/techniques.  Bubbl.us allows for such ease and versatility, as you can easily connect various thoughts/ideas into manageable pieces very quickly.  This ensures that the user does not miss pertinent information in the meeting/classroom.