Critical Insights into SpicyNodes Created for: UNB ED 6229 Created by Malcolm Mulligan

BACK What is SpicyNodes? SpicyNodes is a web-based tool for producing mind maps or organizing structures. The tool is available as a free limited use resource which can be used to show linear thought in a graphically structured manner. See the visual opposite which shows a sample of the SpicyNode you can create in the tutorial I have attached with this document.

Highlights of the Program BACK Highlights of the program SpicyNodes can be used by many professionals, indeed on their cookbook page They list a number of resources for authors, copywriters, and teachers along with articles to assist with technical aspects of using the software tool. In this presentation and the tutorial I have produced the instructions and tasks are made so that a limited amount of technological sophistication is required. If you can click a mouse and type on a keyboard you can create with SpicyNodes. The example to the right is a SpicyNode I created to summarize an article for another class. See it live at: SpicyNode Look

BACK What is cool about the tool is that you begin entering data, or ideas in a linear format, but once it is published it looks like the graphic organizer on the previous slide. For example, the previous slide is a screen shot of the published SpicyNode that was created form the linear list on the left. Some of you may be thinking so what? For people like me, I am a linear thinker and have trouble with pictures and graphical interfaces, so to be able to do my linear thing and have it produce a graphical thing is awesome, because now I can reach more students. I can show them my thoughts both in linear and graphic format.

BACK SpicyNodes is viewable across platforms, but to be honest, I had great difficulty making it work on my wiki. I think it is best to create and view it on their website. This is easily completed because as soon as you finish there is a button for getting the URL which you can paste in any document and share with anyone.

BACK How can SpicyNodes spice up your E-Learning? SpicyNodes is a great tool for individual or group work: Any SpicyNode can easily be edited, which makes it a great tool for collaborative projects. It is an easy tool to use to provide an outline and allow students to work with it to complete the project (see my example next slide). It can be used to provide an overview of a topic or a detailed explanation of a topic providing an easily referred to memory tool allowing students to quickly access the parts they need rather than going through large amounts of text. In this way, advanced students can skip to the parts they want rather than go through all the information they know well.

BACK A Sample Outline for Students to Complete and Submit This Web-based application is easy to edit, save, share, and collaborate with. Because it is so, it makes it easy for instructors and students alike to work with, edit and re-edit. It makes sharing ideas easier and sharing information more relevant to the learner, therefore I endorse this web-based tool for all instructors. Please note there are instructions inside each node

BACK References Dirksen, J. (2012). Design for how people learn. Berkeley, Newriders. review/ adding-spice-to-you-classroom/ See Also: +Instructional+Design