Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Tool Review

https://cacoo.com/diagrams/

A picture is worth a thousand words. A picture-like visual presentation of information with short, precise text is probably worth more. Diagrams have been appreciated for a long time for its power to demonstrate user’s creative and critical thinking. The diagrams creation tools which are now added with collaboration features have had a higher contribution in the dynamic, fast-pace learning environment. Cacoo is tool like that. It is a web-based diagram creation tool that allows many people to work together simultaneously on the same diagram in real time. Diagrams can be published directly to websites, wikis, and blogs. 

Description

Simply with a browser, Cacoo enables you to create and insert beautiful diagrams easily into an online document and modifications will appear instantly and most recent version of the diagram is always displayed. Features that Cacoo offers to its users can be categorized into 1) Diagram creation and 2) collaboration in which you will find detailed description below.

Features

Creating a diagram is very easy. You don’t need any extra 
downloads or any supplement software to run the tool. 
All you need is to drop a stencil you like and finish up the 
diagram with connectors if necessary.

The options for the stencils are various and serve multiple purposes. As long as you have an image in mind that you want it to be visualize, making it happen on Cacoo is a piece of cake.

Cacoo also enables you to draw a balanced diagram easily by aligning and distributing nearby objects automatically and evenly.

You can also view the history of your diagram 
creation in which modifications are highlighted.

Diagrams created on Cacoo can be embedded 
in your blog or Wiki in PNG format. If you edit 
the diagram on Cacoo, the embedded image will be converted automatically. 



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Diagrams can also be exported into PDF or SVG which can be printed out or re-edited on other graphic editors later.

You can also share your diagram with anyone you want by choosing the privacy setting. Your diagram can be shared public where everyone can have access to and edit it, or it can only be viewed by invited people on your list.

Cacoo enables collaboration and communication among the invited audience. Users can edit the diagram simultaneously in real time and communicate with each other by posting their comments or chatting. 

How - to

Step 1: Create New Diagram

Step 2: Create a Folder

Step 3: Create a Shared Folder

Step 4: Share a Diagram with your friends

Step 5: Set your icon

Strength and Weakness

Cacoo tool obviously offers a lot to its users compared to other concept mapping tools (Mind Map, Inspiration): aligning the objects, diagram creation history, embedded pictures online in various formats and the advanced strength is to allow collaboration among the users.

Cacoo does have some requirements for the system but I don’t think these are the weakness of the tool.

• Processor: 2.5 GHz or more
•  Memory: 4GB or more
• Storage: 100GB or more (Note: The storage space required will vary according to the number and size of your diagrams.)

One last thing: Cacoo does offer 2 types of accounts: Cacoo regular and Cacoo Enterprise. Cacoo regular runs on an ASP framework where all users are sharing an identical server through the Internet. Cacoo Enterprise allows users to install Cacoo on their own server, giving them control over the access to the network, set rules on how Cacoo is used or how diagrams are save according to the network’s security requirements. And Cacoo Enterprise is not free. Cacoo Enterprise Annual User License corresponds with the number of users in the organization.