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Exploration and Mapping

Exploration is about creating and using maps. Whether maps of space, earth, the ocean, to constructed spaces and the human mind The College of Exploration has an going program of action research on the creation and use of maps.

We use a selection of different mapping approaches and software programs to assist with the mapping process.

Concept Maps
The Coexplorer Project uses a program called CMAPS to support concept mapping. We have our own CMAP server. The software for PCs Macs and Linux can be downloaded for academic use. The program was developed by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition which is affiliated with several Florida Universities.

Concept Flows
Concept Flows help illustrate a scope and sequence for a curriculum. See for example the Ocean Literacy concept flows.

Mind Maps
We use a number of programs for mind mapping and planning.

We are beginning to use collaborative maps from Mead Map which is the U.S. education organization representing commapping.com

FreeMind is a free mind mapping software program. We also use commercial software from Mindjet - Mind Manager. The College of Exploration used Mind Manager to compile a history of actions on ocean literacy prior to actions in October 2004. See a program called Inspiration used widely in K-12 settings. A popular program in K-12 which we also use is Inspiration

Cognitive Mapping
In the late eighties and early nineties we researched the role of cognitive mapping in executive development. We used software called Graphics COPE. This has now evolved into Decision Explorer.

Information Mapping
A way to map personal and corporate information is with a program called The Brain This is good for visualizing information on computers.

Dialogue Mapping
We like to work collaboratively with partners. We also support collaborative activities by networks and groups. To support that work we use software called Compendium. This program helps display conversations in a more disciplined and diagrammatic fashion. More information is available from the Compendium Institute and also Cognexus. Here is a screencast of a compendium map linked to a GIS system.

Rich Picture
Peter Checkland has developed Soft Systems Methodology over the past 25 years. Part of the process involves drawing a rich picture. This is a free form graphic that is highly collaborative and creative, designed to capture the people, processes, organizations and issues involved in the system being studied.

Network Mapping and Evaluation
We are evaluation processes and tools created for social network analysis and mapping created by Valdis Krebs see Orgnet.

Google Maps
To map our projects and projects of others we use Google Maps. An example is our mapping of World Ocean Day activities. Click here for the days events are here on a Google Map version, and the World Ocean Day activities of Coexplorer community members. We have charted the route of the original HMS Challenger on a google map.

Geographical Information Systems
Our work with National Geographic and others uses geographic maps and GIS to map information. ArcView from ESRI is a popular program. We have worked with the ESRI Internet Mapping Server.

Organization Maps
Stafford Beer has mapped organizational systems. His Viable System Model is a map for understanding and designing organizations.

Organization Charts
The College of Exploration org chart is created using Microsoft Visio. See the org chart.
Learn about Visio.

Visualizing Information
Edward Tufte has written sevn books on the presentation of data and information in a visual form. He has a website.
Get his essay The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint

Knowledge Mapping

Robert E. Horn of Stanford teaches visual language. he has written an article on Knowledge Mapping for Complex Social Messes We have participated with Denham Grey defines knowledge mapping as " a navigation aid to explicit (codified) information and tacit knowledge, showing the importance and the relationships between knowledge stores and dynamics

We have chelped organize and contributed to in a number of online workshops on Knowledge management and mapping, one was called the Knowledge Ecology Fair. Another for IBM was called KMBlue98.

Pattern Mapping
Christopher Alexander talks of a Pattern Language as a form of mapping behavior and architecture and landscape to a word map of patterns.

Timelines
We use Timeline Maker - a timeline program to map our history and key events.

Visual Metaphors
David Sibbet was one of the founders of Grove Consultants . They are developing Visual Planning Systems.

Other Web Resources

Mind mapping blog.

College of Exploration Bookstore Mind Mapping Section

Bibliography

Dialogue Mapping Jeff Conklin
Idea Mapping Jamie Nest
Visual Language Robert Horn
Envisioning Information Edward Tufte
Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Peter Checkland
Mind Map Book Tony Buzan
Learning, Creating, and Using Knowledge: Concept Maps As Facilitative Tools in Schools and Corporations, Joseph Novak.
Diagnosing the System for Organizations, Stafford Beer.