Free online concept map maker

Organize your thoughts and knowledge with EdrawMind. Use free templates or AI to make a concept map within seconds. Turn complex ideas into one easy concepptual diagram.
concept map maker of EdrawMind

What is a concept map ?

A concept map or conceptual diagram is a diagram that describes the relationships between ideas, knowledge, and concepts. Teachers, instructional designers, engineers, writers, students, and other professions will use it for brainstorming, learning, and teaching. It helps to make complex knowledge easy to understand.
It displays ideas or concepts as nodes. Lines or arrows will tell the relationships between each node. A concept map starts with a main idea and other related subtopics will branch out. Together they form a structured diagram that includes cross-links to show connections of each branch.

Types of concept maps

Hierarchical Concept Map is the most common type. It organizes ideas from top to bottom. It shows the hierarchical structure for the main idea and subtopics.
Spider Concept Map has this main concept in the middle and other sub-concepts connected will radiate outward like a spider web.
Flowchart Concept Map uses arrows to connect ideas to show a complete process. Each concept is one step or of the process. Together, they make a workflow analysis or process mapping.
System Concept Map shows related elements within a system. They have multiple connections with each other. It's common in system dynamics, ecosystem modeling, and organizational behavior analysis.
Multidimensional Concept Map mixes with Hierarchical, Spider, and System Concept Maps to represent multiple types of relationships.

Pros and Cons of Concept Maps

Concept maps are powerful tools to simplify complex information into one easy-to-understand diagram. It helps improve learning and working efficiency. It's suitable in many fields and many professionals can use it to boost efficiency.
However, it's never an easy task to create a concept map. You need time and effort to make one. This gets worse when this is a complex concept that needs large datasets and has multiple subtopics. Also, a concept map reflects the maker's understanding of this knowledge. Viewers may have different understandings. So, this may make it hard to understand the map.

Why use a concept map?

Concept maps visually organize and represent complex information, foster an understanding of relationships and patterns, and enhance critical thinking and knowledge retention by engaging learners. Simplify complexity with concept maps for a clearer, structured overview of ideas and concepts.
why

Make complex ideas easy to understand

Break down barriers of complexity with visually stunning concept maps. From intricate scientific theories to convoluted processes, these maps simplify the most complex concepts. Engage your audience, enhance understanding, and foster effective communication. Let your ideas shine and leave a lasting impact.
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Unveil patterns, discover insights

Unleash the full potential of your research and development efforts with concept maps. Dive deep into complex datasets, uncover hidden patterns, and forge connections that lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Harness the power of concept maps to fuel innovation and accelerate your journey towards scientific breakthroughs.
why

Visualize business roadmaps

Unlock the power of concept maps to revolutionize your business strategies. With a visual roadmap of key concepts, relationships, and dependencies, you'll gain unparalleled clarity and insight. Identify untapped opportunities, mitigate risks, and make informed decisions that propel your business toward success.

How to make a concept map?

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  • Step 1: Identify the main topic

    Decide the main concept and put it on the map first. In the following steps, we will add branches for this main idea.
  • Think about the key ideas, facts, or components related to the central topic. List them all and add to the map.
  • Use lines or arrows to connect the main idea to the subtopics. You can use other elements if you'd like to. You can add words or phrases like "lead to", "belong to", "reason for", and more to describe their relationships.
  • For the final step, chekc the map again. Make sure all relationships are correct. Then, you can highlight certain subtopics with colors, symbols, or other elements. Then, export or share the concept map.

Concept map templates in EdrawMind

Biology Concept Map
Cellular Respiration Concept Map
Enzyme Concept Map
Nervous System Concept Map
Science Concept Map
Volcano Concept Map

EdrawMinder voices

A great solution for students, teams, and decision-makers to work together, share ideas, and break down complex topics.
I found EdrawMind to be very useful and helpful in assisting me in my ability to simplify complex knowledge, information, and ideas into orderly structured mind maps.
It has all the features that every user needs. There's no other mind map app on the marketplace that is at the same level as they are. EdrawMind is a supreme product.

FAQs on concept map makers

The benefits of a concept map include facilitating understanding and knowledge retention, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills, organizing complex information, identifying knowledge gaps, and fostering meaningful connections between concepts and ideas.
Yes, there are several free concept map makers available. For example, Some software like EdrawMind offer a free version, with which you can access most of its basic functions.
There are several excellent programs for creating concept maps, depending on your specific needs. Some popular options are EdrawMind, Lucidchart, and XMind. However, which is the best tool depends on personal preference and the features you require.
The main elements of a concept map include a central concept or topic, related concepts or subtopics, lines or arrows to show relationships between concepts, and descriptive labels or text to clarify the connections and meanings within the map.
To create a concept map in PowerPoint, use shapes to represent concepts, connect them with lines to show relationships, and add text labels. Customize the appearance and design for clarity. Save the presentation to preserve the concept map.

Ignite your creativity with EdrawMind AI's futuristic mind mapping.

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