Map Builder Guides

Click the image to view or download our reference guides below or return to the Map Builder Guide online for more information about key features in Map Builder.

Intro to My Maps and the Exercise Builder

A quick walkthrough of the basic steps to navigate the application and create your first Map.

Customization Options and Text Preferences

Select the options that work best for you, and set them as your standard defaults to personalize each Map for your own unique style.

Adding Color and Images to Maps

Add images to different areas of your map to enhance the design and assist in visualizing your topic. (supports png, jpg, gif, tiff)

Utilizing the Image Library

Take the next step and upload or reuse images you have from other exercises to save yourself time and more easily expand on your existing lessons.

Building Unit and Lesson Plans

See different ways that Map Builder can be used to present information to your students in front of the class, or as exercises that can be shared with students to collaborate on in the classroom.

Assignment Links

See how to more easily introduce Map Builder as a tool to students and include it as part of your everyday instruction. 

Collaborating with Teachers

Share ideas and collaborate with teachers in your school, district, or across districts by utilizing the right strategies for success in the classroom or when planning with leadership. 

Collaborating with Students

Go beyond assignments by using the Map Builder sharing tools to collaborate in real time with one or more students, or offer each student individual copies of an Exercise as a resource for learning. 

Bulk Upload for Large Groups

Quickly build sharing groups to work with larger class sizes, or create leadership teams more easily to decrease preparation time.

Work across Multiple Maps

Take thinking to the next level more easily by transferring information into different thought processes and diving further into the specific topic(s) being discussed.

Export and Print Options

Take your Maps anywhere with options to export to various media types or print to the size that best fits your needs.

In the top right corner, click the icon to Export or the icon to Print

Export options include the file format, location to save, 

and additional information to include on the exported image.

Likewise, the print option will allow you to fit each Map to and individual page, select the paper size, 

and include additional information on the printed map. 

Note that you can also print blank templates based on the design of your prefilled map, allowing you to create answer keys before printing paper exercises.

Hybrid and Alternative Map Layouts

Some information can be more complex or require a unique visual style to enhance your students' learning and retention. Check out these additional Map layouts that are available to support your classroom learning goals.

The Flow, Multi-Flow, and Bridge Maps all have the option to modify their maps to meet specific customer needs. Just look for the crossing arrows to update to the new layout

Flex Mode

The Flow and Multi-Flow Maps allow users to enter Flex Mode, a combination of Flow and Multi-Flow which provides teachers and students the chance to make larger, more complex sequences or to discus how multiple events can feed into each other over time. Take full advantage with older or advanced classrooms who need to look at the big picture. 

This Map is also great for school planning and leadership to review administrative requirements and coordinate among departments.

Scaffolded and Stacked BridgeWhile working with the Bridge map, you can convert to the Scaffolded or Stacked Bridge layout to provide students with new ways of comparing analogous items and identifying relating factors.

• Scaffolded Bridge - This layout allows students to visualize the relating words in a way that is more familiar to younger audiences or early readers.
• Stacked Bridge - Takes relating factors to the next level by allowing students and teachers to compare words, phrases, or ideas across different relating factors and see the relationships in different ways