How to Create a Concept Map in Word

Last update:

23/11/2022

Creating Concept Maps in Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating concept maps in Word can be a time-consuming and limited process, but there is a smart alternative available.

Creating Concept Maps in Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

Until a few years ago, the strategy to create a concept map in Word was manual: opening a blank document, you had to add step by step the various shapes, insert text and connections between different shapes in the most traditional way. This cumbersome methodology led to a significant increase in the time it took to create the concept map, making the process almost exhausting.

However, in recent years, Word has implemented numerous tools that meet the new needs of users. One of these is SmartArt, with which we can build concept maps more easily. But what are the steps?

Building a Concept Map with Word

To build our concept map, we need to create a blank document. Once the worksheet is open, simply click the "Insert" option in the main menu where we will find, among the various options, "SmartArt". The graphic options that SmartArt offers are multiple, each with a specific use explained by the software itself with a brief description. Word contains numerous diagram templates that we can use as a starting point.

To create our map, we need to click on the "Hierarchy" option and select "Organizational Chart".

Our map will appear as in the image below: a title and several subtopics. The text inside the nodes can be edited through the "SmartArt Text" menu, which allows for a general management of the textual contents of the map and their hierarchical parent-child relationships using the +, -, and arrow buttons or through the keyboard.

As we are already used to doing in Word, we can modify the font, size, and color of the text according to our needs. It is also possible to change the geometric shape of the nodes, the color, and the overall layout of the concept map under the "Format" option, which provides various modifications that allow for customization, albeit minimal, of the map.

To add new nodes to the concept map in Word, there are two different options:

Use the main menu at the top and left and click on the "Add Shape" option before, after, above, or below.
Use the "SmartArt Text" menu directly next to the map with the various buttons to add, delete, or move nodes on the sheet.

But beware! Since the sheet is limited in size, attention must be paid to the dimensions of the map. The more elements are added, the more difficult it will be to fit everything inside the sheet. Just like for documents, it is also possible to insert images, charts, icons, and even 3D models into concept maps in Word.

Using the top menu, it is possible to change the layout of the map while keeping the content intact. In the case of the image above, we chose the "Hierarchy with Circular Images" layout, which allows you to insert images directly inside the nodes of the map.

In addition, the "Change Colors" button with the palette symbol allows us to change the colors and style of the nodes of the map, using some predefined formats or choosing colors manually.

How to Download the Concept Map from Word

Once our concept map is complete, we can save it to our PC to print it or send it to a friend. Under the "File" option, we will select "Save As" and then choose the document format from the drop-down menu. Among the suggested options when saving, we find doc, PDF, but also "Word Template (*.dot)" that will allow us to save the map we created and use it as a starting template for future ones.

Disadvantages of Concept Maps in Word

Through SmartArt, Microsoft Word allows you to create and customize concept maps fairly easily. However, Word is certainly not the most suitable software for this type of diagrams and schemes: creating a concept map in Word is limiting because it is not very flexible, offers few customization options, and is not very inclusive. Let's look at some examples:

The workspace is limited. As the map size increases, working on it will be complex and the result will be difficult to read. This limitation clearly negatively impacts map navigation and the result of any printing.
Working on it is only easy from a PC, it is difficult to edit the map from other devices such as smartphones or tablets and take it with you to consult or modify it when you don't have access to a PC.
Editing and moving individual nodes or groups of nodes is complex and cumbersome. Word is designed to be a text document editor, it is not a true map editing environment.
There are few customization and creativity options, it is not possible to insert videos or audio inside the map nodes.
You cannot attach a document or digital book to the map, a very useful option for students who create maps based on digital books. Furthermore, Text-to-Speech is not integrated to read the text, a very useful compensatory tool for those with specific learning disabilities (SLD) like dyslexia.
Sharing is limited because you have to save the file on the device and then send it via email or through hardware devices like pen drives. In addition, multiple users cannot edit the same map in real time.
A Microsoft 365 license is required to use Word and its services, including SmartArt. There is a free online version, but it has the disadvantage of lacking many tools, including SmartArt. Therefore, it forces the user to create the concept map "the old-fashioned way" wasting a lot of time.

A Smart Alternative: Algor Education

A practical and easy-to-use alternative to create concept maps online is Algor Education, an Italian web app that offers a multimedia and collaborative editing environment to create concept maps and diagrams in just a few clicks, even starting from text documents. Let's briefly look at the main features of Algor Education that make it more suitable for creating online maps and diagrams compared to Word:

Infinite workspace, the map editor has potentially infinite space and is easily navigable and zoomable by keyboard, touch, or mouse;
Creating new map nodes and customizing them is extremely simple, just one click. Individual nodes or groups of nodes can be quickly modified using the mobile menu.
Possibility to create maps from your own documents or digital books, on Algor you can upload PDF or DOC files to accompany the map. Documents and the map environment communicate with each other, transferring the content of the file to the map nodes requires a few clicks.
Inclusive interface and functionality, maps and documents can be organized in separate folders with symbols and colors of great visual impact. In addition, the app integrates Text-to-Speech highlighted in different languages, voices, speeds, and inclusive fonts such as LexieReadable or OpenDyslexia.
Easy online sharing, with Algor Education you can share your maps with other users simply by sending them a link. You can collaborate in real time on each map and make changes together.
Compatibility with different devices, on Algor you can work from any place using a PC, smartphone, or tablet. All materials are accessible anywhere from any device by logging in with the same account, just an internet connection is required.
Automatic suggestions from the text to stimulate creativity. Algor uses state-of-the-art technologies to automatically create concept maps from a text. The goal is to stimulate the student's creativity and help them synthesize the main concepts of a text.