Interactive Mind Map: A Model For Pedagogical Resource
Interactive Mind Map: A Model For Pedagogical Resource
Interactive Mind Map: A Model For Pedagogical Resource
Research Article
Open Access. © 2021 Luis Antonio Tavares, Matheus Carvalho Meira, Sérgio Ferreira do Amaral, published by De Gruyter. This
work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.
Interactive Mind Map: A Model for Pedagogical Resource 121
and theoretical knowledge. Novak and Cañas (2006) David Ausubel’s cognitive learning theory (Ausubel,
explain that the mind map is flexible in its epistemological 2000). According to Ruiz-Primo and Shavelson (1996), a
approach, and consequently, it also provides more concept map is a structure that displays the relationships
flexibility in the teacher’s methodology. between sub-concepts related to the main concept and its
Therefore, considering the context presented, this manifestations (examples). Unlike mind maps, concept
work’s great motivation was to use all the mind map maps have pre-defined structures with boxes/bubbles
potential to conceptualize a new dynamic and interactive with text and labeled connecting arrows.
learning tool that could break the learning environments’ The concept map is hierarchically organized with
linear paradigm. Our objectives are: to present the uses the most general and most inclusive concept located at
and characteristics of mind maps, to conceptualize a new the top, and the most specific and less general concept
model of an interactive pedagogical tool based on mind located at the bottom, as shown in Figure 2. On the other
maps, to demonstrate a prototype of the learning resource, hand, the mind map does not have such a rigid structure,
and to develop a critical discussion on the benefits of mind but the main topic is usually centered.
maps and the advantages of our proposed model. Novak and Cañas (2006) also accentuate the
differences between mind map and concept map. They
explain that concept map is based on an explicit cognitive
to develop the links and, subsequently, the information recall when compared to simple note-taking or rote
related to the links, they limit how the graphical rehearsal. Stankovic et al. (2011) say that mind maps help
representations of the links can occur. Farrand et al. (2002) us to organize knowledge properly, and its visualization
conducted a study with medical students showing that the facilitates interpretation. They further state that the mind
use of mind mapping techniques significantly improve map stimulates creativity and promotes active learning.
Interactive Mind Map: A Model for Pedagogical Resource 123
During their experiment, students were more motivated Combining interactivity with the concept of mind
when working with mind maps. maps enhances the advantages of the mind map technique
Michalko (2001) presents some advantages for the as a pedagogical tool. According to Torres Diaz et al.
mind mapping technique: ordering thoughts, establishing (2015), interactivity, from a technical perspective, is one
relationships between information units, providing an of the axes that integrate the future of learning. Patten
overview of the subject, providing a clear view of the et al. (2006) explain that the development of interactive
details, providing focus and concentration on a particular applications allows constant student interactions with the
subject, group and compare concepts, transform a short- tool, providing dynamic learning, and exploring creativity.
term memory into long-term memory. New digital media, such as the Internet, are
Davies (2011) shows that one of the advantages of the increasingly integrating previous media, such as text,
mind map is its free form, without restrictions, as there audio and video, and adding new components, such as
are no limits to the ideas and the links that we can create. interactivity. The result is richer media, as different media
The author also comments on the use of the mind map for have different educational potentials. The interactive
brainstorming and to promote creative thinking. mind map proposal is precisely a composite media, a rich
For Novak and Gowin (1984), the act of mapping media because it aggregates different types of media (text,
is a creative activity in which the student strives to image, video).
clarify meanings, identifying structures, concepts, and
relationships within a domain of knowledge. Buzan and
Buzan (1994) highlight creative thinking as one of the 2.4 Data visualization
applications of mind maps. As seen before, the maps
structure the concepts in a network format, breaking with Thinking about more dynamic and objective interfaces to
the linear paradigm that is ordinarily standard in learning deal with the large volume of information we currently
and creating a higher power of synthesis. work on is another issue involved in our conception. The
Lacurezeanu et al. (2018) point out the following visualization of contents through an interactive mind map
benefits in its use as a learning tool: they help students seeks dynamism and objectivity. Therefore, one area that
visualize and express concepts, clarify relationships supported our proposal was data visualization.
between concepts, develop relationships between different The theory of data visualization is a relatively new
ideas, develop critical thinking and promote greater field of knowledge, it had its origin in the 1950s, with
engagement in learning activities. Mind maps enable the an impulse from the end of the 1980s that continues to
representation of students’ and teachers’ understanding of the present day with advances in computational power
knowledge and enable the joint and shared construction of and increased volume of information we worked on, as
knowledge between different authors. explained by Post et al. (2003). Few (2013) defines it as the
graphic display of abstract information for two purposes:
data analysis and communication.
2.3 Interactivity Data visualization aims to communicate information
clearly and efficiently by using statistical graphs, plots,
Interactivity is a concept with broad definitions, and we and graphical information, among other resources.
adopt the Quiring (2016) definition. The author states Data visualization makes complex data more accessible,
that its first root comes from the term (social) interaction, understandable, and usable, according to Aparicio and
which means mutual human actions, directed towards Costa (2015). It is a theory that involves a certain creative
each other. Furthermore, its second root would be the sense necessary to arrange the data for clean and objective
subdiscipline human-computer interaction (HCI) from reading.
computer science. This subdiscipline focuses on mediated
communication by human-machine interaction.
According to Quiring (2016), as nowadays, the 2.5 A new conception for mind maps
interaction term has broadened to the relations between
human beings, between human beings via technological This work’s research problem was to investigate the
systems, and between human beings and technological potential of mind maps and discover how to add value
systems, in what follows the term interactivity is used to their representation through technology, making them
to describe a quality that manifests itself within these more suitable for the digital environment.
relations.
124 Luis Antonio Tavares, Matheus Carvalho Meira, Sérgio Ferreira do Amaral
Our work’s more significant innovation is to propose 3.2 Survey of mind maps
using technology and visualization techniques to add
interactivity to mind maps. In this way, we concept a To raise theories and previous works of mind maps in
new tool: the interactive mind map. The interactive mind education, we searched on platforms Google Scholar and
map increases the tool’s possibilities and makes it more Web of Science. Web of Science is a commercial database
dynamic and appropriate for digital media and new widely used internationally, of a multidisciplinary nature
generations. and covering around 12,000 high impact journals (Chen
In the next sections, we will develop our methodology, et al., 2012; Pelicioni et al., 2018). Google Scholar is a free
discuss the mind map’s concepts relevant to our work, open-access database, which indexes papers available on
and present a prototype and an implementation model to the Internet (Falagas et al., 2008), expanding our search
the interactive mind map. possibilities quantitatively.
We conducted a topic search in which the works should
present the terms mind map and education. In the search
3 Material and methods filter, we also restrict the results to the last 20 years (from
2000 to 2020), papers from journals and conferences,
books and chapters, and only works education-related.
The present work is a qualitative exploratory study in
After listing the articles, we performed a textual
which we investigate the use of mind maps in education
analysis. We sought to identify the area of knowledge
and propose to unite data visualization techniques to
involved, the type of application of the mind map, the
enhance mind maps’ potential. According to Stebbins
benefits pointed out, and the particular mind map’s
(2001), the exploratory findings are always hypothetical,
characteristics each work enhances. Figure 3 shows the
so we created a model and a prototype to expose our
steps of the mind map survey methodology.
hypotheses for better learning through a dynamic and
The theoretical background section addressed the
interactive tool. Our research is divided into four stages:
fundamental concepts, applications, and advantages of
1. The search for data visualization solutions for learning
mind maps in education found in our survey. However,
and the recognition of an existing demand;
in the Results and Discussion section, we will summarize
2. A bibliographic survey of mind maps in education;
and discuss the findings and highlight the ones that
3. The search for features that could add value to a
inspire our tool conception.
visualization-based educational tool;
4. The implementation model and a prototype to serve
as a proof of concept to our proposal.
3.3 Data visualization research
These steps will be detailed in the next subsections.
3.4 Model and prototype of concept, which has confirmed our hypothesis of adding
more advantages to the tool and bringing it closer to the
We conceived a technological extension for the mind student’s technological reality.
map. Then we developed an implementation model for it
since this tool can be implemented in different learning
4.1 Mind map’s findings
environments and using different technologies.
A small interface prototype, representing a final
Based on the bibliographic survey we carried out on
interactive mind map available to students, was developed
the mind map, we developed a textual analysis of the
to elucidate graphic design issues and suggestions for the
articles seeking to identify the applications of mind maps,
system’s architecture and to serve as a proof of concept for
knowledge areas involved, benefits pointed out by the
our hypothesis.
researchers and remarkable characteristics. This analysis
It is important to emphasize that a detailed
brought us concepts we use as insight for the conception
technical study to outline the technologies used in
of our interactive mind map tool.
the system, its modules, and development phases can
Table 1 summarizes the researched works highlighting
bring more efficiency to the implementation process.
the primary use for the mind map and knowledge area.
In order to develop the prototype for the tool, we adopt
Works that deal with mind maps in a broader sense were
a development methodology based on prototyping. As
defined as ”general”.
explained by Sommerville (2010), this means that the tool
When viewing the literature works presented in table 1,
has undergone successive increments until reaching the
we can observe the immense diversity of knowledge areas
desired result.
that employ mind maps. Considering this perception, our
In the next section, we present the model and the
work is not restricted to a specific field. On the contrary,
prototype and discuss our work’s findings.
we developed a general-purpose conception, both in the
knowledge areas and in the methodological aspect.
Mind maps are also used for different applications.
4 Results and discussion We identified many benefits of the mind map in education
from the works studied, for instance, as a useful technique
Below we summarize the main findings of this study, for promoting skills needed in our digital age, such as
which we will later develop with further details: critical thinking (Polat and Aydin,2020), problem-solving
We performed a mind map survey in which we (Tushko et al., 2020), creativity (Munoz Gonzalez et al.,
concluded that a mind map is a pedagogical tool with 2020), and collaborative work (Chen et al., 2020).
several applications and benefits that favors active From the consulted works, we took advantage of the
learning, creativity, critical thinking, collaborative work, benefits highlighted by Davies (2011) in the mind map’s
among others; free format as an insight to our tool. We developed a
We concluded that it is possible to aggregate value conception that could support traditional radial network
on integrating the mind map tool to interactivity and format and other formats such as tree. In this way, it
technology, increasing the tool’s potential and possible allows a better arrangement of content according to the
achievements. When integrated with technology, the organization of the subject’s concepts. Furthermore,
mind map is a tool to promote the digital skills required flexibility allows authors more space for creativity.
in today’s society. Considering the works of Araujo and Gadanidis (2020);
We developed an implementation model and a Kalizhanova et al. (2020); Lacurezeanu et al. (2018); Yang
prototype for the interactive mind map to serve as a proof et al. (2020), we have also incorporated iconographic
126 Luis Antonio Tavares, Matheus Carvalho Meira, Sérgio Ferreira do Amaral
nodes, not just textual information as is the case with part model. It was built using the d3js library (Bostock et al.,
of the traditional mind maps. This is a way to diversify the 2011), a JavaScript library very rich in visual resources and
representation of ideas and their relationships. interactivity.
As Novak and Cañas (2006) explained, the mind To understand the proposed model, we can see Figure
map also has flexibility in the epistemological approach 4. The model aimed at creating a modern, minimalist,
to support its use. So, we think of the interactive mind map and flexible interface to represent the elements of the
as a flexible authoring tool. Thus, the teacher will be free mind map and their relations (left side of Figure 4). When
to develop its content without feeling bound by any bias. observing the elements and their relations, the student
Kalizhanova et al. (2020) states that in recent years, will be able to interact through the nodes (for example,
mind maps’ potential has been enlarged through the using double click), having access to new blocks of
development of relevant software. Technology enables the content (right side of Figure 4). Although in this prototype,
creation of digital mind maps. So, our conception is a model user interaction takes place through a double click, other
for a software tool that allows the author to use different actions or buttons can be implemented according to the
media and add interactive resources to the mind map. content and the need.
According to Lai and Lee (2016) mind maps, by The mind map technique is a flexible structure,
summarizing content to be made available to students, it is possible to add several shapes, figures, and other
avoid cognitive overload, which occurs when students are representations in its implementation. The same applies
presented with too much information at a very complex level to the spatial arrangement of the elements. Thus, it favors
or too quickly for adequate absorption. This inspired us to creating interfaces with innovative layouts.
make the visualization of our tool even more modular. The According to Buzan (2009), the mind map breaks with
interactive mind map shows part of the content only after the usual linear pattern. So, by using interactive mind
interacting with the concept node and avoids long content. maps, the student will be able to study the themes based
Davies (2011) explains that the work involved in on their intrinsic relationships and no longer based on a
creating maps requires active engagement on the student’s linear sequence of contents.
part. The authors Lacurezeanu et al. (2018); Wu and Wu In this work, we highlight the potential of two aspects
(2020); Yang et al. (2020) also cite an increase in student that we can observe on the prototype: data visualization
interest, participation, and motivation when using mind inspired us to create a fragmented content tool, and
maps. interactivity added dynamism to the mind map. Visual and
So the mind map is a rich tool, with many benefits, interactive aspects are fundamental to the development of
suitable for working with numerous subjects, suitable new tools to support education.
for our technological reality. We took advantage of ideas There are many positive points when choosing
about technology, structure, format, and flexibility interactive media as teaching resources because, according
from our survey. Moreover, our work’s great innovation to Bates (2015), intense interaction with learning resources
is to propose to combine interactivity with mind maps increases the time students spend learning. Tori (2010),
when demonstrating a prototype and to propose an states that in virtual activities, interactive technologies
implementation model, shown in the next subsection. influence the feeling of distance (transactional distance),
helping students increase the feeling of closeness. It also
states that interactivity has the potential to change the
4.2 Interactive mind map prototype and student’s posture from passive to interactive. In his view,
implementation model interactivity is part of the concepts that permeate the
education of the future.
This proposal unites the mind map’s pedagogical Our proposal can be considered rich media, as it
characteristics to technological aspects, graphics aspects, combines textual content, images, interactivity, and
and interactivity. To validate the model that we propose, technology (different media modalities). According to
we create a prototype to illustrate the final result of an Bates (2015), the use of different media and rich media
interactive mind map to be made available to students. allows greater personalization of learning, using different
The prototype can be accessed at http://mindmap. stimuli to serve students with different styles and learning
website/oes/; it is an example of an interactive mind needs.
map, built to study the concept of design thinking. The Although the prototype developed was intended
prototype has few forms of interaction, making it possible to highlight interactive mind maps’ potential, what we
to think and add many other interactive resources to this propose is creating an authorial tool for their construction.
128 Luis Antonio Tavares, Matheus Carvalho Meira, Sérgio Ferreira do Amaral
Figure 5 shows the implementation model. In this way, Tavares et al. (2019) comment that technological
the teacher would have at his disposal a tool to create evolution has made evident the need for pedagogical and
these rich and interactive media to work on their learning methodological restructuring of teaching practices and
contents (like the example shown in Figure 4). Tavares the restructuring of daily school activities. Therefore, the
et al. (2019) states that an advantage of an authorial interactive mind map proposal aims to bring teaching
tool is to provide freedom so that the teacher can adapt practices closer to the dynamic and interactive reality
the resource to his class script, without being stuck with experienced by new generations.
inflexible made materials.
Interactive Mind Map: A Model for Pedagogical Resource 129
plant reproduction. In Abdullah, AG and Nandiyanto, ABD and Sarmah, P., Hemavathi, Sharvani, R., and Shenoy, P. (2017).
Permana, I and Agustin, RR and Sutarno and Saprudin, editor, EVALUATION OF MIND MAPS AS A LEARNING TOOL IN
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MICROBIOLOGY FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS. JOURNAL OF
EDUCATION (ICMSCE 2018), volume 1157 of Journal of Physics EVOLUTION OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCIENCES-JEMDS,
Conference Series, DIRAC HOUSE, TEMPLE BACK, BRISTOL BS1 6(1):27–29.
6BE, ENGLAND. IOP PUBLISHING LTD. Selvi, R. T. and Chandramohan, G. (2018). Case Study on Effective
Lacurezeanu, R., Stanca, L., Tiron-Tudor, A., and Zagan, S. (2018). use of Mind map in Engineering Education. In Kumar, V and
Mind Maping as Support for Economic Studies E-learning. Murthy, S and Kinshuk and Iyer, S, editor, 2018 IEEE TENTH
BRAIN-BROAD RESEARCH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCA-
NEUROSCIENCE, 9(4):115–128. TION (T4E), IEEE International Conference on Technology for
Lai, C. S. and Lee, M. F. (2016). The effects of mind-mapping Education, pages 205–207, 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017
technique in engineering mathematics. In 2016 IEEE 8th USA. IEEE Comp Soc, IEEE.
International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Shrieber, B. (2016). Using Mind Mapping Software to Initiate
pages 261–264. Writing and Organizing Ideas for Students with SLD and
Lin, C.-J. (2019). An online peer assessment approach to supporting ADHD. In Miesenberger, K., Bu¨hler, C., and Penaz, P., editors,
mind-mapping flipped learning activities for college English Computers Helping People with Special Needs, pages 351–357,
writing courses. JOURNAL OF COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION, Cham. Springer International Publishing.
6(3):385–415. Signoretti, V. V., Tavares, L. A., and Belinato, G. (2020). Um
Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia Learning. Cambridge University Espaço-tempo Interdisciplinar Virtual: Expandindo o Universo
Press, USA, 2nd edition. Michalko, M. (2001). Cracking da Aprendizagem em Geociências. In JORGE, W. J., editor,
creativity: the secrets of creative genius. Ten Speed Press, Educação presencial e a distância: desafios e reflexões., pages
Berkeley, Calif, revised ed edition. 137–153. Uniedusul, Maringá, PR.
Munoz Gonzalez, J. M., Marin Diaz, V., and Hidalgo Ariza, M. D. Sommerville, I. (2010). Software Engineering. Addison-Wesley
(2020). Validation of a Scale of Mind Map as a Learning Publishing Company, USA, 9th edition.
Strategy in the Initial Teacher Training. ESTUDIOS SOBRE Stankovic, N., Besic, C., Papic, M., and Aleksic, V. (2011). The
EDUCACION, 38:79–100. evaluation of using mind maps in teaching. TECHNICS
Novak, J. and Can˜as, A. (2006). The Origins of the Concept Mapping TECHNOLOGIES EDUCATION MANAGEMENT-TTEM, 6(2):337–
Tool and the Continuing Evolution of the Tool. Information 343.
Visualization, 5:175–184. Stebbins, R. (2001). Exploratory Research in the Social Sciences.
Novak, J. D. (1977). A theory of education. Cornell University Press, Stokhof, H., de Vries, B., Bastiaens, T., and Martens, R. (2020).
Ithaca, NY. Using Mind Maps to Make Student Questioning Effective:
Novak, J. D. and Gowin, D. B. (1984). Learning How to Learn. Learning Outcomes of a Principle-Based Scenario for Teacher
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Guidance. Research in Science Education, 50(1):203–225.
Patten, B., Sanchez, I. A., and Tangney, B. (2006). Designing Suardana, I. N., Redhana, I. W., and Yunithasari, N. P. M. (2019).
collaborative, constructionist and contextual applications for Students’ critical thinking skills comparison in discovery
handheld devices. COMPUTERS & EDUCATION, 46(3):294– 308. learning based on constructing concept mapping and mind
Pelicioni, L. C., Ribeiro, J. R., Devezas, T., Belderrain, M. C. N., and mapping. In INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MATHEMATICS
Melo, F. C. A. L. A. d. (2018). Application of a Bibliometric Tool AND SCIENCE EDUCATION 2019 (ICMSCE 2019), volume 1521 of
for Studying Space Technology Trends. Journal of Aerospace Journal of Physics Conference Series, DIRAC HOUSE, TEMPLE
Technology and Management, 10. BACK, BRISTOL BS1 6BE, ENGLAND. IOP PUBLISHING LTD.
Petrova, G. and Kozarova, N. (2018). The involvement of neuro- Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on
linguistics and mind mapping in the development of a holistic Learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2):257–285.
perception of language education. JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND Tavares, L. A., Maldonado, L. L., Almeida, L., Pereira, T. M., and
CULTURAL EDUCATION, 6(2):116–125. Amaral, S. (2019). Interactive Timeline in History Teaching.
Polat, O. and Aydin, E. (2020). The effect of mind mapping on Tear: Revista de Educa¸c˜ao, Ciˆencia e Tecnologia, 8(2).
young children’s critical thinking skills. THINKING SKILLS AND Tavares, L. A., Souza, R. M., Rittner, L., Machado, R. C., and Lotufo,
CREATIVITY, 38. R. A. (2015). Interactive max-tree visualization tool for image
Post, F., Nielson, G., and Bonneau, G.-P. (2003). Data Visualization: processing and analysis. In 2015 International Conference on
The State of the Art. Springer, Berlin. Image Processing Theory, Tools and Applications, IPTA 2015,
Quiring, O. (2016). Interactivity, pages 1–13. American Cancer Orleans, France, November 10-13, 2015, pages 119–124. IEEE.
Society. Tee, T. K., Azman, M. N. A., Mohamed, S., Muhammad, M.,
Rezapour-Nasrabad, R. (2019). Mind map learning technique: An Mohamad, M. M., Yunos, J. M., Yee, M. H., and Othman, W.
educational interactive approach. International Journal of (2014). Buzan mind mapping: An efficient technique for note-
Pharmaceutical Research, 11(1):1593–1597. taking. International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral
Richter, D. (2011). O mapa mental no ensino de geografia: Sciences, 8(1):28 – 31.
concepções e propostas para o trabalho docente. Cultura Tori, R. (2010). Educação sem Distância: As Tecnologias Interativas
Acadêmica, São Paulo. na Redução de Distâncias em Ensino e Aprendizagem. Editora
Ruiz-Primo, M. A. and Shavelson, R. J. (1996). Problems and issues Senac, São Paulo.
in the use of concept maps in science assessment. JOURNAL OF
RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, 33(6):569– 600.
Interactive Mind Map: A Model for Pedagogical Resource 131
Torres Diaz, J. C., Infante Moro, A., and Torres Carrion, P. V. (2015).
Mobile learning: perspectives. RUSC-UNIVERSITIES AND
KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY JOURNAL, 12(1):38–49.
Tushko, K., Dyiak, V., Levchuk, N., and Kurashkevych, A. (2020).
Implementation of World Experience of Using the Mind Map
Method in the System of Higher Military Education of Ukraine:
Comparative Analysis. REVISTA ROMANEASCA PENTRU
EDUCATIE MULTIDIMENSIONALA, 12(1):150–161.
Vanags, T., Budimlic, M., Herbert, E., Montgomery, M. M., and
Vickers, T. S. (2012). Showercap mindmap: a spatial activity
for learning physiology terminology and location. Advances in
physiology education, 36 2:125–30.
Wu, H.-Z. and Wu, Q. T. (2020). Impact of mind mapping on the
critical thinking ability of clinical nursing students and
teaching application. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
RESEARCH, 48(3).
Yang, H., Gao, X.-B., Li, M.-H., Ye, Q., Sun, Y., and Huang, Y. (2020).
The use of mind mapping in health education in extended care
for children with caries. JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
RESEARCH, 48(5).