WIKIMINDMAP, AN OPEN SOURCE TOOL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF A WIKIPEDIA ITEM

Wikipedia, the multi-language online encyclopedia, is in the world top-ten list of the most visited websites.
The research result is a sort of book chapter consisting in sections and sub-sections to be read either in a sequential way (scrolling the page/chapter) or with a hyper-textual approach (through the index).
In some contexts this modality of visualization might not be directly usable.
Wikimindmap is an open source tool that offers an alternative to the standard visualization of the index, i.e. an overall view of available information.
In the school context this online source makes available a more effective and intuitive method of research and knowledge organization - in a few seconds it generates the result in the form of a mental map organized into nodes and sub-nodes that can be expanded and used through a click and correspond to the index items in the Wikipedia page.
The presence of a map along with the sequence can contribute to highlight links and allows to understand or unveil conceptual or mental connections needed for a critical deliberation on one’s own ways of learning or teaching.
Moreover, the possibility of using Freemind to modify, enhance and personalize the map graphics and contents, might be an interesting opportunity for personalized and individualized teaching to meet the needs of each person within a school system that should help the individual potential emerge.
Through proper changes this software tool can search information in other wikis also created by the user with Mediawiki.
The procedure consists in downloading and installing on the computer or server, a set of software programs that make up an integrated whole of tools and modifying some files properly, according to a specific procedure (http://wmmlab.itd.cnr.it).
This “aperture” of the software might stimulate educational activities that go beyond an ordinary online wiki search, e.g.:

• synergic use of different and interacting software technologies
• real knowledge sharing
• tentative construction of classroom wikis or enhancement of existing ones
• growth of knowledge with added value. Combining single items of knowledge allows to analyze, .i.e. “to break down” and synthetize, i.e. “to reassemble” knowledge in such a way that “fresh” knowledge obtained via individual knowledge sharing and enhancement of personal constructive contribution, yields more value than the simple sum of individual items
• deliberation on one’s own learning modalities, i.e. development and reinforcement of meta-cognition, and the others’
• deliberation on individual and group learning modalities, i.e. sharing, dialectics, discussion, demonstration, confutation…)
• learning and development of fresh thinking styles.

The article will describe a resource that, in specific contexts, might make available key functions to access knowledge and its autonomous building.