Cacoo - For Drawing Diagrams & More

cacoo.com

A Creativity & Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Tool

Why do I need Cacoo?



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Because you need a better way to create diagrams! Cacoo is a diagramming / chart creating draw tool with many options, pictures, templates, layouts, and more for creative, professional looking drawings.

To use Cacoo, you need a reliable internet connection and need to create a diagram.  It is helpful to have previously used a computer drawing program, even something as simple as the drawing options in Word or Powerpoint, so you know how to add boxes & text, but definitely not necessary.
To create a diagram, you need to create an account (more on that later), but before you even get started, the site has a nice tutorial link that provides a good overview of Cacoo’s capabilities. 

This overview shows you that Cacoo can make many sheets of diagrams using a library of shapes & easy link ups.

Multiple users can edit & follow the edits of the same sheet, and the diagrams can be saved as images or imbedded in blogs & wiki.

And while you are working on a diagram, a group can work on it all together in real time while chatting about the pictures.

So enough overview...using screenshots from Jing to step you through this (otherwise watching me create a diagram might take forever), let’s see if it’s really this simple…

1. To get started using Cacoo, first the user needs to create an account.  You can use a Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to login, eliminating the need to create MORE accounts & passwords:

2. Select “Diagrams” on the main page and you will enter the diagram creator, where one can create a diagram from scratch, or use a template:

Since we are new to this, I’ll just start with a template for now…have fun choosing just 1! 

I’m going to go with a basic flow diagram template

3. Next start editing your diagram. It works very similarly to paint & draw programs with auto-aligning of your boxes. Features in the window are easy to identify & use:

4. When you are done with your diagram, you have many options for saving and sharing. It can be exported into multiple formats (PNG only with the free version!):

 You can invite others to edit the diagram:

 And URL can be saved for imbedding into a blog:

I used the flowchart template and played with things, changing box features, adding connectors, arrows, a picture, and a different shape. You can see it here or click on the URL for it (https://cacoo.com/diagrams/JSR8iRObt1sJ9u2j):

Cacoo is a really nice tool for creating flowcharts!! It would have been much simpler to create this diagram (------>)   in Cacoo than using an older version of Powerpoint, because it is designed for just this purpose! (**topsecret info for my paper has been covered!**)

The tool can be used for concept mapping and mind mapping, great for having students explore concepts and work together, especially with the real time chat and edit features. Diagrams can be created to simulate equipment layouts, which would be helpful for creating teaching manuals. Flowcharts can be designed by students to outline process pathways. In design classes, students can create room layouts with furniture positioning.  Because the tool even includes figures and pictures, a user can create comics, greeting cards, and invitations.

Cacoo is really a drawing program with lots of extra templates, shapes, and extras that is setup to easily create balanced & well-aligned mappings, even when used for basic drawings.  Its’ format is quite user friendly, and really nice that the tool can be utilized online without need for downloading an application. The ability to have multiple editors who can work in real time together and follow their edits is really a powerful capability for this tool, especially compared to using traditional PC based drawing programs.  Creating up to 25 diagrams per year is free, and you can have up to 15 users per sheet.  The application recognized its’ utility for educational purposes (https://cacoo.com/academic), and gives educators an option to apply for the fully functional version for use until June 30, 2013, after which full use can be continued at ½ the price of the appropriate team version. 

If using the tool extensively, one may need to buy an upgraded version (https://cacoo.com/pricing) – a single user pays $4.95/month or $49/year, and more for multiple users with graded levels of cost. However, the pricetag comes with the upgrades including creating unlimited sheets, tracking diagram changes, and saving files as PDF, PPT, PS, & SVGs. There is also a “store” full of more complex templates and pictures that are for sale. 

On reviewing the tool and creating my very simple drawing, I really didn’t have any trouble using the tool, which was great! If you need to create a diagram for a paper, a work project, you want to map out some concepts, or design a new layout for your office furniture, give Cacoo a try!