Course Information

What skills do the courses provide? What other information is available?

We offer courses in three levels, foundation, intermediate and advanced. The list below provides an overview of all of our courses. Clicking on an individual course name will take you to additional descriptive information about that course.

Foundation Level

C1: Introduction to Critical and Analytical Thinking using IBIS

C2: Introduction to Compendium: Using Compendium for Critical Thinking

Intermediate Level

C3: Analyzing Writing and Speech with IBIS: Steps toward Critical Analysis

C4: Intermediate Compendium: Using Compendium to Build Bigger and Longer Living Maps (top)
Advanced Level

C5: Capturing the Content of Meetings with IBIS and Compendium

C6: Facilitating Meetings with IBIS and Compendium

C7: Advanced Compendium: Using Compendium as a Group Support tool

C8: Dialogue MappingTM Certification / Licensing Program


C1: Introduction to Critical and Analytical Thinking using IBIS

C1 introduces the IBIS method, in the context of critical and analytical thinking. Without requiring the use of a special software tool, this course provides the skills that allow the student to use IBIS for structuring his or her thoughts. C1 provides guidance on how to make good IBIS structures. This course is the foundation for further use of IBIS, either with or without the Compendium software.

Prerequisites: None

List price: $299          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 1.25 hours
  • Assignments: 1.5 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)(top)
  • PDF file reader
  • Word processor, such as MS Word.


C2: Introduction to Compendium: Using Compendium for Critical Thinking

C2 introduces Compendium as a tool for building IBIS structures, called maps. It provides instruction on all of the functionality needed to create useful maps, including creating projects, creating IBIS and note nodes, creating maps and sub-maps, exporting and importing maps. This course also addresses style guidelines for creating IBIS maps that are easy to read. (top)

Prerequisites: Completion of C1

List price: $299          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 2.5 hours
  • Assignments: 2.5 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Compendium 1.7.1 (download information provided with course material)
  • Java


C3: Analyzing Writing and Speech with IBIS: Steps toward Critical Analysis (top)

C3 shifts the use of IBIS from strictly working with one’s own thoughts to analysis of the thoughts of others, expressed in writing or in speech. Learn how to listen (and read) with an “IBIS ear.” Covers the need to restructure the IBIS when new information becomes available.

Prerequisites: Completion of C1

List price: $299          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 1.75 hours
  • Assignments: 2.0 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Word processor, such as MS Word.


C4: Intermediate Compendium: Using Compendium to Build Bigger and Longer Living Maps (top)

When maps get bigger, or will be used over a longer period of time, there are additional functions of Compendium that can help. Covered in the C4 course are search, tags, bookmarks, reference nodes, adding graphic elements and other non-IBIS items to maps, outline export and using some practical non-IBIS map structures.

Prerequisites: Completion of C2 and C3

List price: $299          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 3.0 hours
  • Assignments: 1.5 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Compendium 1.7.1
  • Java


C5: Capturing the Content of Meetings with IBIS and Compendium (top)

C5 provides a stepping stone approach to building up the skills needed to capture conversation among a group of people in IBIS at “real time” speeds. Discusses a template IBIS structure for capturing discussion in meetings. Covers useful information for mapping when the map is projected and visible to the group.

Prerequisites: Completion of C4 (or completion of IMWS or SIMC)

List price: $399          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 2.25 hours
  • Assignments: 3 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Compendium 1.7.1
  • Java


C6: Facilitating Meetings with IBIS and Compendium (top)

Through earlier courses, the student has become skilled at using both IBIS and Compendium. The C6 course provides an introduction to Dialogue MappingTM, by addressing the facilitation skills needed to move a group toward shared understanding with IBIS and Compendium.

Prerequisites: Completion of C5

List price: $399          Ready to purchase?

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 2.75 hours
  • Assignments: 3 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Compendium 1.7.1
  • Java


C7: Advanced Compendium: Using Compendium as a Group Support tool (top)

The C7 advanced Compendium course addresses the functions in Compendium 1.7.1 which allow a group – which may be distributed nationally or internationally – to work on issue mapping together asynchronously. This includes the use of a shared (MySQL) database as well as functions such as the internal messaging system (cmail) which can interface with email. In addition this course will address the social aspects of group work that are needed to effectively issue map in a distributed environment.

Prerequisites: Completion of C4

List price: $399          Ready to purchase?

Discounts are available for groups of three or more registering from the same organization or company. Contact us to discuss.

Estimated time requirements:

  • “Class” time (including exercises): 3 hours
  • Assignments: 3 hours (minimum)

Computer system requirements:

  • Web browser with capability for playing video files (.mov format standard, .wmv option available)
  • PDF file reader
  • Compendium 1.7.1
  • Java
  • MySQL server for shared database. Contact us for details.


C8: Dialogue MappingTM Certification / Licensing Program (top)

Dialogue MappingTM Certification / Licensing is available for those who wish to increase their facilitation skills and understand more of the theory behind Dialogue Mapping, as well as investigating an open research question. This is a mentoring / apprenticeship process, which involves coaching and feedback while or after doing Dialogue Mapping sessions in your workplace or organization or through your business. It also involves doing a small research project on an area of mutual interest.

Estimated time requirements: Calendar time 6 to 12 months. Total hours ~60. The program involves a minimum of 30 hours of Dialogue Mapping including preparation and post meeting map cleanup time, plus approximately 20 hours for research and report writing. The program will also require online conferences with your mentor, which will be scheduled approximately monthly.

Prerequisites: Completion of C6 or completion of Dialogue MappingTM Workshop.

List price: $300 is payable on application to the program, and is non-refundable. When your application is accepted, an additional $700 is payable, to begin the mentoring process. Total price for the certification program is $1000.

Ready to fill out the application? Contact us to request the application form. Complete this form and send it to us before paying the application fee. When we have received both the application and the fee, we will contact you regarding next steps.

Questions about certification / licensing? Contact us.

Ready to pay the application fee?

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