Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

December 7, 2006

Compendium from OpenLearn: FREE Mindmapping Software

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:16 am

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) –

Compendium Concept Map Tutorial

– 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

Related article
Mind Mapping: Right Brain Work Ahead — Enter At Your Own Risk





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22 Comments to “Compendium from OpenLearn: FREE Mindmapping Software”

  1. December 7th, 2006 at 9:50 am
    David Armano said

    Excellent find. Amd it works on Mac. Me likey. Here’s a little more on mindmapping.

    http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/10/thinking_in_pic.html

  2. December 7th, 2006 at 9:56 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey David.
    Thank you for the link. So many people don’t know much about mindmapping and are getting interested in it’s potential.

  3. December 7th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
    Chris Cree said

    Yeah, I’m one of those who’s a bit ignorant about the whole mind-mapping thing. To me it still sounds a little like something a psychiatrist would want to use. :)

  4. December 7th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Chris,
    Download it and play with it a while. I think you might find some interesting uses for it. You can always delete it if you don’t. Most folks find such things adaptable to how they think.

    They way you would use it would be totally different from how I would. :)

  5. December 7th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
    Kammie K said

    Thanks for the resource Liz…

    I LOVE mindmapping for brainstorming ideas. Not sure I’d dig it as much without my markers and colored pens, but I’ll give it a whirl!

    Kam:)

  6. December 7th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
    ME Strauss said

    HI Kammie,
    Do it with your color markers first and then use the software when you need to do a presentation! ;)

  7. December 7th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
    Carolyn Manning said

    Sounds like a pretty cool program, as long as it doesn’t require a destination.

  8. December 7th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    It is a pretty cool program. I’ve been playing with and it does everything that I would want it to. :)

  9. December 7th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
    Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said

    How cool! I too love mind mapping. I’ve put together many presentations and articles with the help of my mind maps. I can’t wait to try this program. Thanks for the recommendation!

  10. December 7th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirsten,
    I’m dleighted that you’ll be able to use it! YEA!!!

  11. December 7th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    I’ve led a sheltered life. I never heard of mind-mapping until a few months ago. With what I’m hearing, I’m going to have to give it a try. Any recommendations on for on books?

  12. December 7th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Rick!
    Tony and Barry Buzan are considered a great place to start!

    Here’s whole page!

    http://astore.amazon.com/successfulblo-20/search/104-7154311-8570340?node=2&keywords=Buzan&x=13&y=9

  13. December 7th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
    Rick Cockrum said

    Thanks, Liz!

  14. December 7th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Look around, Rick.
    You’ll find plenty. One will surely suit what you’re looking for. :)

  15. December 8th, 2006 at 7:02 am
    Behind the glasses » Blog Archive » Free mind mapping software said

    [...] Liz Strauss from Successful Blog has an article about free mind mapping software called Compendium. According to Liz: The software is intuitive and easy to manipulate. In fact, I found it less cumbersome than its more expensive, commercial “older brother”. [...]

  16. December 8th, 2006 at 7:13 am
    Grigor said

    Liz, thank you for the recommendation.
    I use FreeMind, as it is also free and easy to use, but I will definitelly try Compendium as well.
    What I am mostly interested in is it’s ability to work with drawings and images as this is especially important in mind mapping.

  17. December 8th, 2006 at 7:49 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Grigor,
    Welcome! I’ve not played with FreeMind. I’d be interested in knowing more about how it works and what you think about it. Would you like to write a review for Successful Blog?

  18. December 8th, 2006 at 8:36 am
    Grigor said

    Thanks for an invitation. I’ll be glad to do that.

  19. December 8th, 2006 at 8:49 am
    ME Strauss said

    Cool! Write me an email, Grigor! We’ll set something up!

  20. December 11th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
    Improbulus said

    Hi Liz, just saw your post. Thanks for the mention and link - and you are very kind to say such nice things about me! I hope you’ll continue to find my blog useful.

  21. December 11th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Improbulus!
    I’m still looking for another opportunity to write some really bad poetry. Until then you’ll just have to settle for my highest praise. :)

  22. December 14th, 2006 at 10:25 am
    Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - FreeMind: Mindmapping for Notes and Blog Post Ideas said

    [...] Related articles Mind Mapping: Right Brain Work Ahead — Enter At Your Own Risk Compendium from OpenLearn: FREE Mindmapping Software [...]

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