visualization tool plus plus and amazing instructional design

Two great new discoveries this week…

Via downes, VUE is an open source application that pushes the envelope in the visualization/concept mapping department.  I have a  few projects that can take advantage of the ability to link nodes to local or public files, display images, and allow tagging and categories to be assigned.  Again, it passed the 2 minute tool test, and some of the more advanced features are well described and demonstrated on the Features page.

The other item making the rounds in the Canadian Copyright world is an astounding piece of work from Appropriation Art.   Not only is the topic one that is of concern/interest to me, but that aside, it’s a brilliant example of great instructional design.  Obviously the visual narrative form (with embedded links to perspectives of others) is well suited to addressing any type of debate, but I’m thinking of ways this could be used for case studies or historical descriptions for a variety of disciplines.