Concept Mapping

A concept map is a visual representation of facts and ideas, and of the relationships among them

Creating a concept map, on its own, generates a number of cognitive benefits.

• It is a visual tool for organising and representing knowledge.

• It is a technique used to help individuals better understand and communicate complex ideas or relationships between different concepts.

• Concept maps are diagrams that represents ideas, concepts and relationships using nodes(usually represented boxes or circles ) and connecting lines.

• Each node represents a concept or idea, and connecting lines indicates the relationship between the nodes.

• These relationships can include things like “is a type of”, “causes”, “influences” or “part of”

• The magic is not in the map, but in constructing the map.

• It consist of:

  • Main topics
  • Lines
  • Nodes
  • Linking words

• The main difference from mind map is that, mind maps don’t have linking words.

• Examples of linking words:

  • Includes
  • Promotes
  • Measures
  • Is opposite to
  • Drives
  • Combines with
  • Increases
  • Decreases
  • Is related to
  • Begins with
  • Represents
  • Varies with

• If you ever get struck when building your map, you could try looking at a list of linking words to spark new ideas.

• Concept map can generate

  • new insights,
    • Identifying loopholes or gaps
    • Inconsistencies
  • a shareable diagram

• It is a reading method or an active learning method.

• It is a “living” document

  • All new learning is connected to existing knowledge (Constructivism)

• A tool specifically suited for ADD - ADHD students

• It need not be symmetrical.

Construction of a concept map:

1. List or highlight the major concepts from notes or text
2. Identify in the list the most general concepts(grouping)
3. Arrange with the most general concepts at the top:
   1. Label connecting lines to explain the relationships if needed
   2. Arrowheads can show direction, cause-and-effect, etc…
4. Try to branch out at each level of the hierarchy with more than one link
5. Identify and draw cross-links between related concepts.
   1. This is a powerful step in developing integrative thinking
   2. Requires “looking around”
      1. Active Learning - you looking for something in a lecture

List - Group - Compare

1. List important terms
2. Group by major topic
3. Compare by drawing cross-links

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• Concept map is similar to Google earth
• Book vs concept maps