The Open UniversitySkip to content
 
Skip My preferences

My preferences

Skip Learning ToolsSkip Share this unit with a friend

Share this unit with a friend

Help with sending a link to this unit (new window)
Permalink to this unit:
 

Topic outline

 

Compendium

 
 

What is Compendium?

  • Compendium is a knowledge map software tool for visual thinking. Knowledge Mapping is a key skill in 21st century lifelong learning. Fragments of information are linked in a map to make information easier to access. Compendium is based on many years research on the use of such tools in educational and workplace settings.

    · People are able to see what they are thinking.

    · Helps people to manage large amounts of information – e.g. in government, education, business and research.

 

What can I do with Compendium?

  • Keep track of your own thoughts and documents.

      • Drag and drop documents and websites onto a map.
      • Arrange icons in ways that make sense to you.
      • Give icons keyword tags. [Mind Map] [Example]

    Map the connections between concepts .

      • Write down the key concepts of a new topic.
      • Label the connections between concepts to show links.[Concept Map] [ Example]

    Map discussions and arguments. Create a ‘Dialogue Map’ to:

      • Clarify your thinking.
      • Make links between everyone’s ideas in meetings.
      • An "Argument Map" can be made to clarify the argument in someone else's writing.
        [Dialogue Map] [Example] [Argument Map] [Example]

    Share learning pathways.

      • Organise large amounts of information on the web.
      • Gather educational resources by dragging+dropping them onto a map.
      • Sequence resources into a learning path.
      • Publish your maps by linking them to one or more OpenLearn resources. [Web Map] [Example]
 

Finding Compendium

  • On every page of any study unit there is a Learning Tools menu, inside which you will find a link to the Learning Tools Knowledge Maps page. The menu looks like this:

    Learning Tools Menu


    To access all the features of Compendium you must log in to OpenLearn. For more details on registering see our Get started page or simply register for free.

    Once on the Learning Tools Knowledge Maps page you will see the Knowledge Maps menu.

    If you have not logged into OpenLearn, the Knowledge Maps menu looks like this:

    logged out

    · QuickStart takes you the guide that you're reading now.

    · Browse Maps lists any maps that are related to the study unit.

 

Using Compendium

  • Once you've logged into OpenLearn, then you can download Compendium and publish any knowledge maps you create:

    Logged In

    · Download Compendium takes you to the download page for the Compendium software. To use Compendium, you download and install it on your own computer (Windows, Mac or Linux).

    · Share Maps takes you to a page where you can publish your maps. You’ll need to export your map from Compendium in HTML format (so that they can be browsed immediately in a Web browser) plus XML format (so that they can be edited in Compendium).

    welcome screen

    The Welcome Map in Compendium introduces the different icons you can use to organise information and thoughts.

    · You can add your own icons to a map.

    · Note the hyperlinks to websites and files on the left.

    · The drop down menu gives you the option to 'tag' icons with your own keywords so you can find and group related information.

    The number "3" next to an icon means that it appears in 3 different maps... sometimes ideas and documents don't sit neatly in just one box.

 

Further information

  • Compendium is provided with full Help (under the 'Help' menu).
 

Examples of how Compendium is being used

  • If you want to see how Compendium is being used all over the world, then check out these examples...

    Epoch
    A structured hypertext on the history of Psychology
    Maps / OpenLearn Unit     		Iraq Debate
    Mapping+tagging published contributions to the debate, and their interconnections
    Maps / Article     		Compendium Community Showcase
    Software, case studies, meetings and discussions
    Website
    Bekerley
    Maps for each class and assignment
    Maps / WebSite     		Al Stories
    Experimenting with visual storyboarding
    Maps


Skip Log inSkip Related educational resources