What is Popple

Aristotle once said, “The soul never thinks without a mental image.” From the author's experience as an ESL program director, ESL instructor, technology coach, and teacher educator, this saying is absolutely true. This chapter reviews an innovative web-based platform and a technology-based approach to teaching called Popplet that can be found at www.popplet.com. Popplet is a mind mapping application and a graphic organizer that allows teachers and students to create visually pleasing graphic organizers that integrate different features such as colors, texts, images, videos, and links to organize and present information. In addition to its use to enhance students' brainstorming, presentation, and discussion techniques, Popplet can also support the students' 21st century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. This chapter will highlight some of Popplet's important features for teachers who would consider implementing it in their teaching pedagogy in the future.