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The heart of the concept mapping tool is a java applet. The applet appears in a browser page and allows the user to create and edit concept maps. We have tested the applet using Netscape 7 and Internet Explorer 6 under Windows and Internet Explorer 5 under OS/X. Applet support appears to be poor under browsers running under earlier versions of Mac OS. The concept map applet will not work under OS/9.
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The applet works in two modes: unrestricted and restricted. In unrestricted mode, the user may label concepts and relations with any text string. In restricted mode, the user must select concept and relation labels from a list. Unrestricted mode is used by instructors to create concept map assignments and for all users during practice mode. The applet works in restricted mode when students are working on assignments. In this case, they must choose labels from a list provided by the instructor. This list may include distractor labels that are not relevant to the topic at hand.
Figure 2 shows a concept map as it is displayed in the applet. Operations are performed using mouse clicks. Left-clicking on an object (concept node or relation link) selects that item. Right-clicking on an object displays a menu of actions that can be performed on the object such as setting the object color. Double-clicking on an object is used to set the label for the object.
If you are using an Apple Mac, a right-click is performed by holding the Apple key, and then clicking on an object.
Right-clicking on the canvas where the mouse point is not over an object displays a menu for actions affecting the whole concept map such as saving it.
The following table gives tasks performed by mouse clicks:
| Operation | Mouse Command |
|---|---|
| Select the object | Left-click on an object |
| Select multiple objects | Left-click on an object while holding the Ctrl key |
| Set or modify the object label | Double-click on an object |
| Set object properties | Right-click on an object |
| New object or save concept map | Right-click on the canvas |
| Add a new link | Left-click a blue dot on a selected concept node |
Selected objects can be moved by dragging with the mouse. Nodes can be resized by dragging the resize squares that appear when a node is selected. In addition to the resize squares, selected nodes display eight blue dots around the node. Clicking a dot causes a new link to be created. To link two nodes, i.e., to create a proposition, drag the arrowhead of a new link into the interior of another node and release the mouse button.
When working with relations, be aware that there are three points that can be clicked and dragged: The arrow head, the arrow tail, and the label position. When a relation arrow is created, there is no label, but the label position is in the middle of the arrow. The arrow naturally bends at the label point, and the label point can be dragged to make more room for a label.
Selected objects can be deleted by keying the keyboard Backspace key.
Right clicking on a concept node produces a menu with the following options:
| Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Set Shape | Change the concept node shape to a rectangle, rounded rectangle, or an ellipse |
| Set Label | Modify the text of the label for the node or change the font of the text |
| Set Color | Change the color for the label, border, or interior |
| Delete | Delete the node |
The right-click operations for relation links are
| Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Set Label | Modify the text of the label for the link or change the font of the text |
| Set Color | Change for the color for the label, lines, or arrow |
| Delete | Delete the node |
Right-clicking the canvas pops up a menu with the following operations.
| Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
| New | Create a new link or node |
| Save | Save the concept map |
Although concept map printing is not supported directly from the applet,
concept maps can be printed by using the
Concept maps are stored on a server. When you make changes without performing a save operation, the changes will be retained until the server software is restarted. The time of server restarts isn't predictable, so save your work often.
When navigating the concept map tool web pages, use web page buttons to travel between the pages. If instead you use the browser forward and back buttons, you will have to also use the reload button to restore dynamic pages.
When working on an assignment as a student, the applet works in restricted mode. In this mode, you are given a single main concept node when you start an assignment. You will create nodes and links that demonstrate your knowledge of the main concept.
When you use the right-click menu or double-click an object to change its label, you will be given a selection list of labels from which you should choose an item.
For the grading system to work properly, four concept map properties are required:
The current version of the applet enforces all but the first of these requirements. See the next section for problems with this feature. Also note that an instructor can change the label on the main concept node through the web interface before an assignment is published.
The applet and server system were created by Roberto Augusto Flores-Mindez as part of his master's work at the University of Calgary. We modified the code to enhance the user interface and to integrate the software into our concept map assessment tool.
We plan to implement copy and paste operations and more user-friendly node resize, adjust tolerances for selecting objects and link creation arrows, and add enhancements to support the restrictions listed above.
The concept map assessment system is currently implemented such that a student may receive a negative score. We plan to adjust the scoring algorithm so that students will always receive positive scores.
The help system does not have a means by which a user can return to a concept map that was being edited. The browser back button can be used; however, the user will have to refresh an expired page to return to their work. We will add navigation buttons to the help pages.
There is a bug in the applet where right clicking an object produces the
canvas right-click menu instead of the node or relation right-click menu.
If you encounter this error, save your work and use the