Brilliant work… fantastic!

Hopefully we can chat later today, Luc, but I’ll make a brief stab at your questions.

Yes, almost all dialogue maps begin with a root question, typically in the form of “What should we do about…?” or “How should we do x?” This is recorded on the shared display with a “?” node that is then responded to with ideas, which in turn are argued pro or con (+ and – nodes)

If you’re wanting to record facts into the map, you could ask a factual question like “Is x true?” or “We know this because…” and then respond to that with idea nodes for each factual response. In the Compendium tool you can also add a reference node for hyperlinks.

Critical to all of this is a continuous verification with the group: As a facilitator you are an engaged observer, not a driver. Your aim is to have the group engage with the map and direct you on how to make their tangled thoughts coherent. This builds toward shared understanding of the problem domain between the participants and hopefully a shared commitment on what to do next.