Connected Mind (http://connected-mind.appspot.com/) is one of those programs that is so much fun to use and the final product is....well, it's pretty! This is a very cool interactive digital graphical organizer or mind mapping tool. There are so many uses for mapping, like mapping out stories & story boards, fact building for reports and projects....I even use them for 'Me' projects, where Students will add pictures and tell about things they enjoy doing or tell the incredible story of their life.
Connected Mind is available in the Google App Store, for iPads in iTunes, and by using any browser. Colorful, squiggly lines are drawn out and bubbles are added easily. Then Students can add their content to each of the bubbles or on the "arms". Pictures can also be uploaded fairly easily. The final product can be shared in a variety of formats as well.
I rate this for 3rd Grade and up, however, I have used it with 1st & 2nd Graders for their 'Me' projects and it was fairly easy for them to use.
Happy Organizing!
Elana Moore
