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Turn class notes into an editable concept map with AI

Upload a PDF, slides, or photos of your notes and get a mind map you can rearrange, expand, and study from.

Create mind maps nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free account · 3 sets a month · Creates mind maps in seconds

Why a mind map works better than a blank page for concepts

A concept map app helps most when it starts from the material you already have. Upload lecture slides, a textbook chapter, or photos of handwritten notes, and DeckOwl pulls out the key terms and how they connect. Ecology is a good test case, since a food web is really a set of links between producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Starts from your own PDFs, slides, or notes
Editable and explorable mind maps
Free plan includes 3 generations a month, no credit card needed
Plus adds unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV export

Example ecosystem and food web concept map branches

ProducersPlants and algae · Capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis · Form the base of every food web

Primary consumersHerbivores that eat producers · Examples include deer, grasshoppers, and zooplankton · Pass energy up the chain

Energy passed between trophic levelsAbout 10 percent moves to the next level · The rest is lost as heat through metabolism · This limits how many top predators an ecosystem supports

DecomposersBacteria and fungi · Break down dead plants and animals · Return nutrients like nitrogen to the soil

Energy flow versus nutrient cyclingEnergy flows one way and leaves as heat · Carbon and nitrogen cycle repeatedly through living things and soil · Producers reuse those nutrients

Generate the full set

Editable mind maps

Rearrange branches, rename nodes, and expand or collapse sections as you study.

Explorable structure

Click into any branch to see how the main idea connects to the details beneath it.

Built from your material

Start from a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or a photo of a page.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text notes, or a photo of a page from your textbook.

Generate the map

DeckOwl reads the material and organizes the main ideas into branches.

Explore and edit

Adjust the layout, then study from the map or switch to flashcards and quizzes.

Mind maps do not replace reading. They show the structure of a topic so you can see which ideas depend on which, then fill in details by checking your sources. Editing the map yourself is part of studying, because deciding where a concept belongs forces you to understand it.

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Sample AI Concept Map for Photosynthesis

See a photosynthesis concept map sample, then build one from your own notes or PDFs.

AI Concept Mapping Tool

Turn PDFs or notes into an editable mind map to study how concepts connect.

Frequently asked questions

How do I study a food web using a concept map?

Start with producers at the base, then draw arrows from each organism to whatever eats it. Label each arrow with the energy or nutrient it passes along, and check your map against the diagram in your textbook.

What should a mind map for ecosystems include?

Include the main levels such as producers, consumers, and decomposers, plus the processes that connect them, like photosynthesis and respiration. Keep each branch to a few sub-points so the structure stays readable.

Is the free plan enough to try DeckOwl?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, with no credit card needed to start. Exports are not included on the free plan.

Which plan includes exports?

Exports are a paid feature. Plus, at $99.90/year or $9.99/month, includes PDF, DOCX, Anki, and CSV export, and students get 40% off with a school email.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.