LucidChart

What is it?

Lucidchart is a web-based diagram application that allows for the creation of flowcharts, diagrams, charts, floor plans, wireframes, and concept maps.

What is its purpose?

In addition supporting the creation of various diagrams that can be published and shared in a variety of formats, Lucidchart is a collaborative tool that allows multiple creators to work on a document synchronously.

How to use it

After setting up an account and signing in online, use a variety of templates to get started creating or work with a blank canvas. Documents can be shared with others by invite. Created diagrams can be exported in a variety of formats (e.g. .jpeg, .pdf, etc.)

Where to find Support

This tool is not centrally supported

Help and Documentation

 For help, please refer to the Lucidchart documentation

Tool Evaluation

Functionality overall rating: 2 starsFunctionality

Rating Rationale
Scale rating: 2 stars

Scale

Lucidchart can scaled to accommodate any size class however, only a team account (paid) allows flexibility to create smaller sub-groups

Ease of use rating:3 stars

Ease of Use

Lucidchart has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize

Tech Support/ Help Availability rating: 2 stars

Tech Support/Help Availability

Technical support and help documentation is available in the form of web pages or videos

Hypermediality rating: 2 stars

Hypermediality

Lucidchart allows users to communicate through different channels (audio, visual, textual) but is limited in its ability to provide non-sequential, flexible/adaptive engagement with material

Accessibility overall rating: 1 starsAccessibility

Rating Rationale
AODA Friendly rating: 1 stars

AODA Friendly

Lucidchart does not provide information on the accessibility of its services

User Foused Participation rating: 3 stars

User-focused participation

Lucidchart is designed to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities, thereby widening opportunities for participation in learning

Required Equipment rating: 3 stars

Required Equipment

Proper use of Lucidchart does not require equipment other than a computer and access to the internet

Technical overall rating: 1 starsTechnical

Rating Rationale
OWL Integration rating: 1 stars

OWL Integration

Lucidchart can only be offered in OWL through a link or static representations of the tool (i.e. PDF), rather than a functional version of the tool itself

Operating Systems rating: 3 stars

Operating Systems

Users can effectively utilize Lucidchart with any standard, up-to-date operating system (i.e. Windows 10, Apple OSX, etc.)

Web Browser rating: 3 stars

Web Browser

Users can effectively utilize Lucidchart with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10 etc.)

Additional Tech Requirements rating: 3 stars

Additional Tech Requirements

Users can effectively utilize Lucidchart without any browser extensions or downloaded software

Mobile Design overall rating: 2 star Mobile Design

Rating Rationale
Mobile Operating Systems rating: 2 stars

Mobile Operating Systems

Lucidchart has limited functionality with some devices, limiting mobility. For example, there is a mobile app for Android but it currently only allows for users to view their charts and does not enable editing

Mobile Functionality rating: 2 stars

Mobile Functionality

Basic features of the main tool are functional on the mobile app but advanced features are limited

Offline Access rating: 2 star

Offline Access

The platform can be used offline but tools and content are affected

Usage and account set up overall rating: 1 starsUsage and Account Set Up

Rating Rationale
Sign Up/Sign In rating: 1 stars

Sign Up/Sign In

All users (instructors and students) must create an external account or additional login to access charts

Cost of Use rating:  2 stars

Cost of Use

Limited aspects of Lucidchart can be used for free with other elements requiring payment of a fee, membership, or subscription. Free accounts are limited by the number of active documents one can have (limit 3), the number of objects per chart (limit 60), shapes available,

Archiving Saving and Exporting Data rating: 3 star

Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data

Users can archive, save, or import and export content or activity data in a variety of formats

Data Privacy and Ownership rating: 2 star

Data Privacy and Ownership

Users maintain copyright of their intellectual property/data; While you retain copyright, Lucidchart states they have the right to “reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, and distribute Content solely for the purpose of enabling Lucidchart to provide you with the Services”

Social Presence overall rating: 2 starsSocial Presence

Rating Rationale
Collaboration rating: 3 stars

Collaboration

Lucidchart has the capacity to support a community of learning through both asynchronous and synchronous opportunities for communication, interactivity, and transfer of meaning between users

User Accountability rating: 2 stars

User Accountability

Instructors cannot control student anonymity but Lucidchart provides some solution for holding students accountable for their actions

Diffusion rating: 2 star

Diffusion

Student familiarity with the tool is likely mixed, some will lack basic technical competence with its functions

Instructor Presence overall rating: 3 starsInstructor Presence

Rating Rationale
Facilitation rating:3 stars

Facilitation

Lucidchart has easy-to-use features that would significantly improve an instructor’s ability to be present with students via active management, monitoring, and engagement

Customization rating: 3 stars

Customization

Lucidchart is adaptable to its environment: easily customized to suit the classroom context and targeted learning outcomes

Learning Analytics rating: na stars

Learning Analytics

Lucidchart is not designed to support the collection of learning analytics

Cognitive Presence overall rating: 2 starsCognitive Presence

Rating Rationale
Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s) rating: 3 stars

Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)

Lucidchart enhances engagement in targeted cognitive task(s) that were once overly complex or inconceivable through other means
Higher Order Thinking rating: 2 stars

Higher Order Thinking

Lucidchart  may engage students in higher order thinking skills (given significant consideration to design, facilitation, and direction from instructor)

Feedback on Learning rating:2 stars

Feedback on Learning

Lucidchart supports some opportunity for giving and receiving feedback through the chat feature

Security and Privacy

This tool has not been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee

Security and Privacy Flags

Accounts

  • Users are required to create and use a non-Western account. It is highly recommended that users do not use the same username and password that is in use at Western.

Information Collection

  • Application collects information that could identify the user specifically (email address, class schedule, etc..)
  • Application collects information that is confidential (physical address, drivers licence number, health card number, social insurance number)
  • This application may use profile information and/or provided data for marketing purposes

EULA

  • Acceptance of the Application's Terms of Conditions or End User License Agreement may bind the institution to an agreement thereby requiring legal counsel to review the application contract.

Cost and Approval

  • The application may require the instructor to enter credit card information
  • The application may require students to enter credit card information

Integration

  • This application is hosted outside of Canada

Last Updated: January 31, 2020


Rubric

The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence

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Credits

Ratings icons are based off images made by authors on Freepik, Zurb, and Icomoon and licensed by CC BY 3.0