In this article, we will let you know how to make a concept map in PowerPoint. This is because Concept maps are a great way to visually represent complex ideas and information.
They can help you organize your thoughts, identify connections between different concepts, and communicate your ideas effectively.
PowerPoint, being our most used presentation software, it will be much useful and easy to learn how to make your Concept Maps with it without the need to move to different software and later import in your presentations. This saves time.
Read Also: How To Convert Publisher Documents To Powerpoint
Planning Your Concept Map
Before you start creating your concept map, it is important to plan out the structure and content. Identify the main idea or topic that you want to explore and then brainstorm related ideas and concepts.
Once you have a list of related ideas, group them into categories or themes. This will help you create a clear and organized concept map.
Steps to Make a Concept Map in PowerPoint
The steps below will help you to create your Concept Maps in PowerPoint.
Set the slide layout to blank
It is important to set the layout of the slide for your Concept Map to blank. Follow the steps below to do so:
- Open the slide where you want to insert your concept map.
- Click on the Home ribbon.
- Move to the Slide section and click on Layout.
- Click on Blank from the list of Layouts that will appear.
Plan the idea structure of the map.
To create the main concept or idea for your concept map in PowerPoint. Shapes like ovals, are circles the elements used represent ideas of Concept Map. You can make google search for inspiration.
- Open your PowerPoint presentation
- Navigate to the slide where you want to create the concept map
- Select the Oval shape from the Drawing section
- Drag the Oval shape onto the slide to create a circle
- Use the vertical line that runs across the slide for alignment and placement support
- This circle will represent the central idea of your concept map
- You can play with the formatting tap of the selected element by removing, adding, and changing colors.
- Now arrange the shapes as you want for your presentation.
Connect your ideas (shapes) with nodes (lines/arrows)
After you have created your ideas with different shapes, it is time to connect them with nodes. This can be either line or an arrow. Follow the steps below to add nodes to your concept map.
- Open the presentation you are working on and select the slide where your concept map is.
- From the Insert ribbon, go to the Illustration section and choose either line or arrow that you want to make as your nodes.
- When your node is selected, drag from one shape to the other (the connections). There arrow points around your shapes that will guide you.
- Now you can format your shapes by increasing the weight, colors, and others from the shape format options.
Add labels and descriptions of your concept map
Now that you have successfully drawn your concept map, it is now time to add labels and descriptions to your ideas and nodes. This is mainly done by using the text box. Check the following to learn how to add textbox in PowerPoint.
- Open the Insert ribbon by clicking on the Insert tab.
- At the Text section, choose Text Box. Click on where you want to add your label/description.
- Type the text.
- You can format and adjust per your preference.
Conclusion
Concept maps are a useful tool for organizing and communicating complex information. PowerPoint provides a simple and effective way to create concept maps. By following these steps, you can create a clear and visually appealing concept map that effectively communicates your ideas.