How to find your way into a new topic with an idea map.

01What is an idea map for?

An idea map shows a topic as a network: the main concept at the center and, around it, the people, works, concepts, movements and debates that shape it, linked by the relationships between them.

It is especially useful at three moments:

• When preparing a new unit, to decide which content is essential and what can wait.
• When starting research, to get to know the authors and discussions in a field before looking for sources.
• When studying for an exam, to see how ideas that appear separately in your notes are connected.

1. Enter the topic precisely
2. Generate the map
3. Explore the nodes
4. Switch views
5. Save and share the result

02How to use the Idea Cartographer in 5 steps

1. Enter the topic precisely

   It can be a concept (“the Enlightenment”), a field of study (“sociolinguistics”) or a question (“why did the Western Roman Empire fall?”). The more specific it is, the more useful the map: “formative assessment in middle school” works better than “education”.

2. Generate the map

   Click Map it and wait a few seconds. The Cartographer builds a network with the central concept and the most important elements of the topic, each with its type: person, work, concept, movement or debate.

3. Explore the nodes

   Click any node to see its description and its connections within the map. Start with the ones that have the most connections: they are usually the ideas or authors worth knowing first.

4. Switch views

   The same map can be shown as a graph, a constellation or a timeline. The timeline is especially useful in history, philosophy or literature, because it orders people and works by date.

5. Save and share the result

   Every map is kept in your history, and you can download it as a PNG or PDF to use in class, add it to your notes or share it with your students.

Before reading in depth, it helps to know where you are. A good map does not replace the journey, but it keeps you from getting lost.

03Example: a map to plan a unit

Imagine you are teaching the Industrial Revolution for the first time. A map of the topic helps you organize the unit around what you find in it:

What you see on the map	How to use it in the unit
Core concepts	They are the content of the first lessons: without them, nothing else makes sense.
People and works	They give each lesson specific names, dates and sources.
Movements	They show how to group the content into coherent blocks.
Debates	They are a good starting point for a discussion activity or an essay.

04How to get more out of it

• Check what you plan to teach. The map is a starting point. Before using a fact in class, confirm it in a reliable source.
• Make one map per subtopic. If the result feels too general, generate another one from one of its nodes.
• Use it with your students. Ask them to explain why two nodes are connected: it is a quick way to check whether they understood the topic.
• Combine it with other tools. Once you know what you want to cover, The Structure helps you organize it into an outline or a summary chart.