Concept Mapping

What is Concept Mapping ?

Concept mapping is a technique for representing knowledge in graphs.

This technique was developed by Professor Joseph D. Novak at Cornell University in the 1960s.

This work was based on the theories of David Ausubel, who stressed the importance of prior knowledge in being able to learn about new concepts.

What is Concept Mapping (continued)?

Concept Mapping is the process of identifying important concepts, arranging those concepts spatially, identifying relationships among those concepts, and labeling the nature of the semantic relationships among those concepts.

The Components of Concept Mapping

Knowledge graphs consist of – nodes (points/vertices) – links (arcs/edges).

Nodes represent concepts or ideas Links represent the relations between

concepts

Source: http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/index.cfm?fuseaction=concept_maps

A concept map example

Why Concept Mapping?

DK represents awareness of some object, event, or idea (knowing that). It is what you remember.

PK is the knowledge is the knowledge of how to use DK – how to solve problems, form plans, and make decisions and arguments (knowing how). It is what you know how to do.

It is not enough to know that. In order to know how, you must know why.

Declarative vs. Procedural Knowledge

SK represents an intermediate type of knowledge, it connects declarative and procedural knowledge. SK is the knowledge of how the ideas within a domain are integrated and interrelated. It provides the conceptual bases for knowing why.

Structural Knowledge

Concept mapping is a mindtool that can enhance the interdependence of declarative and procedural knowledge to produce yet another form of knowledge representation known as structural knowledge

(Jonassen, 2000).

Concept Mapping and Structural Knowledge

It can be used to

generate ideas (brain storming, etc.); design a complex structure (long texts,

hypermedia, large web sites, etc.); communicate complex ideas; aid learning by explicitly integrating new and

old knowledge; assess understanding or diagnose

misunderstanding.

Concept Map and Learning

Study Guide– Concept maps organize, enhance and encourage understanding. – They help students learn new information having them integrate each

new idea into their existing body of knowledge. Reflection and Integration

– Concept maps are ideal for measuring the growth of student learning. – As students create concept maps, they reiterate ideas using their

own words. – Misdirected links or wrong connections alert educators to what

students do not understand. Planning

– Group Project– Organizing ideas

Steps in Making a Concept Map

Make a plan and set perspective for analyze a domain. Identify the most general, intermediate, and specific concepts. Begin drawing the concept map:

– Concepts are circled – Place the most general concepts at the top – Place intermediate concepts below general concepts – Put specific concepts on bottom

Draw lines between related concepts. Label the lines with "linking words" to indicate how the concepts

are related. Revise the map.

Activity 1Construct a concept map for your project

Form a small group (1 - 4 participants) Discuss your project Identify and select the key concepts in the chosen

topic Rank the concepts from the most abstract and

inclusive to the most concrete and specific. Link the concepts by propositions to construct a

concept map

Semantic Networking Tool

An Example - Inspirations

– assists you and your students in:

Brainstorming Planning Organizing Outlining Prewriting Diagramming Concept Mapping Webbing

Advantages of Computer Support for Concept Mapping

Ease of adaptation and manipulation Dynamic Linking Conversion Communication Storage

http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/index.cfm Also see Visual learning

Activity 2Construct a concept map with Computer-based Semantic Networking Tool

Download the trial version of InspirationInspiration Install the software in your computer Construct the concept map constructed in

Activity 1 with InspirationInspiration