For BSW & MSW students
Ecomap tool for social work students
Learn Hartman notation and complete practicum assignments on iPad. Built-in templates walk you through the ecological systems framework as you draw.
Download for iPad — 7-day free trialWhat students use it for
Practicum & Field Placement
Create ecomaps for field placement clients following Hartman notation. Export to PDF for your practicum portfolio, supervisor review, or case file.
Case Study Assignments
Work through textbook case vignettes visually. Mapping the ecological context of a case study helps you identify gaps, strengths, and priorities faster than notes alone.
Learning the Notation
Ecomap Creator labels each connection type as you build. Most students have the standard Hartman set internalized after two or three ecomaps — faster than memorizing from a diagram.
Self-Assessment Practice
Map your own systems as a learning exercise. Understanding the college student experience ecologically is useful preparation for working with that population.
Group Projects
Collaborate on a shared case: create the ecomap on one iPad, export as PNG, and paste into a shared presentation or document for group review.
Exam Preparation
Review completed ecomaps as a study aid. A completed ecomap communicates the entire ecological picture at a glance — faster than re-reading case notes.
Included templates
College Student
Academic, financial aid, family, work, and social support systems — maps the typical undergraduate ecological context.
Single-Parent Family
Extended family, childcare, employment, and community systems common to single-parent households.
New Immigrant Family
Legal status, cultural community, language services, employment, and healthcare systems.
Isolated Client
Minimal support network — surfaces where connections are broken, weak, or primarily institutional.
Strong Support Network
Dense, high-quality connections across multiple systems — useful as a contrast case or strengths-based example.
Burnout & Anxiety
Imbalanced energy-flow patterns. Shows how one-directional drain concentrates in a few key relationships.
How to create an ecomap for an assignment
Choose a template or start blank
Pick the 'College Student' template to map your own systems as a learning exercise, or start blank for a client or case study. Templates are annotated with example relationship types to guide notation.
Add the central person
Name the person and add key demographic information. For class assignments, use a pseudonym to protect client confidentiality.
Identify the systems
Think through the ecological rings: household, family, school/university, work, healthcare, social, community, financial. Add each as a node.
Apply Hartman notation
Use the Connect tool to link each system. Choose the relationship quality (strong, stressful, conflictual…) and the direction of energy or resource flow.
Export for submission
Export as PDF or PNG. Add your name, course, and date in a note before exporting, or annotate after in a PDF editor.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Ecomap Creator for a practicum assignment?
Yes. Ecomap Creator produces standard Hartman-notation ecomaps that are appropriate for BSW and MSW field practicum assignments. Export to PDF or PNG and include in your assignment or portfolio.
Is there a student discount?
The Standard Annual plan at $19.99/yr supports up to 10 ecomaps — that covers most practicum and class requirements without needing the Unlimited plan. Both plans start with a 7-day free trial with no charge.
Do I need to know Hartman notation before using the app?
No. The app labels each connection type as you select it and renders it with the correct line style. It's a practical way to learn the notation by doing — most students find they have the standard set memorized after two or three ecomaps.
Can I create ecomaps for my own life as a student?
Yes — the College Student template covers academic, financial, social, and support systems. Many students find mapping their own ecological context useful for understanding the tool before applying it to a client.
Does the app work offline?
Yes. Ecomap Creator requires no internet connection. This matters for field placements where WiFi may be unavailable or where connecting to a network on a client device is not permitted.
Learn ecomap notation by doing
7-day free trial. Works offline. Export to PDF for practicum and class assignments.
Download for iPad