Monaco - The Casino: My CMaps

Monaco held many sweet treasures to uncover in such a small place.  One of my favourites was the casino.  We didn’t venture inside as we were a group of tourists (teachers and students) and did not have the bank roll to even enter.  Instead we marvelled at it from outside.  The architecture, the grounds and the scenery were like scenes out of a movie.  I was in love with Monaco.  Likewise, I found many treasures and learning about Constructivism in ETEC 530.  As I hadn’t taken 512 yet, so 511 (informally) and now 530 were my first introductions to concept maps (CMaps).  The only mapping program I was familiar with so far was Inspiration so I defaulted to using Inspiration. 

This was my first try at sorting my thoughts on a computer web program.  In the beginning, my analytical self had considered me much more of a linear organized chart person but I soon found the beauty in organizing my thoughts and notes using webs and concept maps!  As a highly visual person – I was hooked!  I loved the features the Inspiration program offered: color, shape, size, linking, organization, structuring of content, etc.  I could create the visualization I really pictured, color and all!  However, I tried to include everything I thought I knew about Constructivism and this unfortunately created a clutter mess!  Little did I know that organizing according to theme would have worked nicely and would have alleviated some of the clutter!  Unfortunately, I learned this important little tidbit after I had already submitted my confusing clutter mess for grading!

I am including version 1 and version 2 of my CMap so you can see some of the thought process that I went through!  Confusing at times - I wasn't sure if I was on the right track, but I kept adding more content to try to sort my thoughts!  Version 2 is the one I submitted but looking back now - it all looks so confusing, I don't know how I thought anyone could follow that!  I'm currently constructing what I think it should look like and I'm sticking with the 'less is more' theme and less confusing clutter!  

As a result, I’ve included this artifact to showcase my initial attempt at concept mapping, clutter mess and all, to be compared to my later CMaps that I created in other courses using different mapping programs. 

Version 1

Version 2

This is the submitted version!

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