How to create automatic concept maps with Algor

Innovations like Artificial Intelligence often face skepticism, especially in traditional sectors like education. However, adhering to preconceptions about the integration of technological tools in the educational process would be a mistake. The automated features of these tools can assist teachers in preparing more interactive teaching materials. Moreover, they can aid students during their study phase.

Artificial Intelligence represents an ally in the preparation of teaching materials and in studying, and Algor's automatic maps are an example. If you are also super passionate about manual maps, what should change your mind? Although the traditional process can still help students, automatic functionalities can offer practical advantages that were previously unthinkable. Not only do they significantly reduce the time needed to create the map, but they can also provide original connections when you are stuck in the ideation and creation phase of the mental pathway.

Automatic Maps: an aid for teachers and students

The possibilities related to Algor's automatic maps are numerous, and the advantages can be exploited by both sides of the classroom. From a teaching perspective, for example, Algor Education's functionalities allow for a significant reduction in time spent preparing teaching materials.

In addition, the final result is extremely interactive and stimulating, especially when choosing to personalize your map, even collaboratively and in real time, with multimedia content: images, videos, audio, links, and teaching resources from the web.

Automatically created concept maps with Algor can be fully customized in the multimedia and collaborative editor. On the other hand, automatic maps can significantly facilitate students as well. The automatic tools provided by Algor can serve as compensatory tools and/or dispensation measures, as well as a generally valid facilitation for every student. Automatic maps can relieve students who struggle with reading, meeting the needs of dyslexic students, for example, or be a tool to use during assessments for visualizing abstract connections - a particularly useful aspect for dyscalculic individuals.

Summaries in a few clicks: the text-to-map

Text-to-map is the best automatic functionality to use in two occasions:

1. When approaching an unknown text for the first time, especially if it is particularly complex;
2. When studying and consolidating concepts.

This tool allows you to enter a starting text into a concept map in a few simple steps, without needing to read it in advance or already be familiar with the topic being addressed.

From a practical point of view, the technology used allows you to input text from any source, from PDFs to Wikipedia pages, using simple and universal copy and paste.

One less intuitive strength of text maps is that they can be modified based on the needs and mental processes of each student, allowing for complete personalization of the learning experience. It is precisely because of this characteristic that they can serve as a basic tool to organize the concepts to be learned, and then expand the map to internalize them according to the paths that arise most naturally for the students.

From the perspective of the goals to be achieved, the photo map has very similar characteristics to the text map. It is designed with the same ratio, but seeks to overcome the limitation related to the macro format being studied. Through a very similar process, the photo map allows you to take advantage of the benefits of automation even when the starting text is in paper format. Why give up the advantages of automation just because you are dealing with printed textbooks?

Algor's automatic maps now allow you to create paths starting from photos of paper books or handwritten notes. Similar to what happens with the text map, you can use Algor's automatic tools as a first approach to the content to be studied, so you have a certain starting point at hand. This tool will prove particularly useful during study, as it allows you to upload multiple images for the creation of a single map. Needless to say, the compensatory nature of the paths created with this functionality is extremely pronounced, which is why it is particularly appreciated by students with learning disabilities.

Quick maps are perhaps the most surprising tool among those offered by Algor Education. Unlike the other two types, it does not require starting materials to work on or study: automation allows you to start from a simple concept or a short phrase to quickly have a conceptual map at your disposal to work on. Just like the other two tools we have presented, in this case you will have the opportunity to expand your maps with personalized links and media, so you can have a completely individual result.

In this case, however, the use of the automatic function is recommended especially for the development of multidisciplinary paths and presentations, although the advantages related to study remain valid. The ability to start from a simple concept or phrase to obtain an automatic map will allow you to brainstorm and explore the topics, discovering new aspects with connections that might not even come to mind otherwise. To complement this process, there will also be suggested questions to help you, guiding you not only in the creation of the map but also in its expansion and personalization.

And what if we told you that you can find all these automatic features on the Algor Education platform? To start experimenting with the technological tools and take advantage of the benefits associated with the three types of maps we have described, simply follow a few simple steps:

1. Access your Algor profile at this link. If you don't have one, you can quickly register (also using your Google account);
2. Once you have logged in, you will find yourself in your personal home. Here you can choose from the different icons that will appear, by clicking on the automatic functionality you prefer;
3. Based on your type of map, proceed by uploading the text or material or write the concept on which you would like to have an automatic map;
4. Wait for the processing time, which takes a few seconds, and then enjoy the result!

From here, you can start editing the map, making it truly personal, with the help of tools (such as key questions suggested by Algor) or with multimedia materials and original links.

All these automatic functionalities are indeed available on our platform for anyone who accesses it, following different methods based on the chosen plan. The free plan, for example, already provides 30 credits, with which you can create two maps belonging to these types (15 credits per map): but there is nothing stopping you from choosing to subscribe after the free period, continuing to take advantage of 360° artificial intelligence to facilitate your work!