Concept Mapping in Interaction Design

IFI7156 Interaction Design Methods

(Vicwood40, 2005)

Elements of a concept map

• Focus question

• Concept terms

• Linking lines

• Labels

Role in interaction design

• Summarizing design sessions

• Establishing user interface vocabulary

• Building a common understanding in a project team

• Providing input for information architecture

Process

1. Identify a focus question

2. Write down main concepts

3. Choose the most general concept and categorize other concepts under that

4. Connect concepts with linking lines and choose appropriate labels

5. Introduce intermediate concepts when you have more than 4 concepts under any concept

Types of links

• causal (leads to, produces)

• explanation (is a reason for)

• nominal (known as)

• property (consists of, has)

• procedure (results in, done by, way to do)

• probable (likely, always)

• event (comes before)

(Loganathan, 2010)

Concept mapping software

• CmapTools: http://cmap.ihmc.us

• Visual Understanding Environment: http://vue.tufts.edu

Why not mind maps?

• Only one central concept

• No linking labels

• Typically only linear structure

(Nicoguaro, 2011)

Examples

(Leinonen et al, 2010)

(Põldoja & Väljataga, 2010)

(Põldoja et al, 2011)

References

• Leinonen, T., Purma, J., Põldoja, H., & Toikkanen, T. (2010). Information Architecture and Design Solutions Scaffolding Authoring of Open Educational Resources. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 3(2), 116–128. doi:10.1109/TLT.2010.2

• Loganathan, M. (2010). Concept map vs mind map. http://www.slideshare.net/muralidharanl/concept-map-vs-mind-map-6287765

• Nicoguaro (2011). Mind map guidelines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MindMapGuidlines.svg

• Põldoja, H., & Väljataga, T. (2010). Externalization of a PLE: Conceptual Design of LeContract. In The PLE 2010 Conference Proceedings. Barcelona: Citilab.

• Põldoja, H., Väljataga, T., Laanpere, M., & Tammets, K. (2012). Web-based self- and peer-assessment of teachers’ digital competencies. World Wide Web. doi:10.1007/s11280-012-0176-2

• Vicwood40 (2005). Concept map. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Conceptmap.gif

Photos

• Aaron E. Silvers, http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvers/6269204209/

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Hans Põldojahans.poldoja@tlu.ee

Interaction Design Methodshttp://ifi7156.wordpress.com

Tallinn UniversityInstitute of Informatics