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--- instructional_design:concept_mapping [2011/03/09 13:35]
jpetrovic [What is concept mapping?]
+++ instructional_design:concept_mapping [2011/08/24 10:41]
jpetrovic [What is concept mapping?]
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ===== General =====
-Concept mapping is a [[learning_paradigms:|cognitivist learning model]] developed by [[http://www.ihmc.us/groups/jnovak/|Joseph Novak]] and his colleagues in 1972 as they worked on understanding how children's knowledge of science changes(([[http://aer.sagepub.com/content/28/1/117.abstract|Novak, J. D., & Musonda, D. A Twelve-Year Longitudinal Study of Science Concept Learning. American Educational Research Journal, 28(1), 117-153. 1991.]])). First concept maps were, however, proposed by some other authors as well((Stewart, J., Van Kirk, J., & Rowell, R. Concept maps: A tool for use in biology teaching. American Biology Teacher, 41(3), 171-175. 1979.)), but concept maps in their fullest form were introduced by Novak in 1981((Novak, J. Applying learning psychology and philosophy to biology teaching.  The American Biology Teacher, 43(1), 12 – 20. 1981.)). In Novak's words, concept map is "//a **visual representation of the relationships between concepts** held by an individual, materials of a lecture, textbook, or laboratory exercise//. By concept mapping even old and familiar material, we often
+Concept mapping is a [[learning_paradigms:|cognitivist instructional design model]] developed by [[http://www.ihmc.us/groups/jnovak/|Joseph Novak]] and his colleagues in 1972 as they worked on understanding how children's knowledge of science changes(([[http://aer.sagepub.com/content/28/1/117.abstract|Novak, J. D., & Musonda, D. A Twelve-Year Longitudinal Study of Science Concept Learning. American Educational Research Journal, 28(1), 117-153. 1991.]])). Some of the first concept maps were, however, proposed by some other authors as well(([[http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=EJ201881|Stewart, J., Van Kirk, J., & Rowell, R. Concept maps: A tool for use in biology teaching. American Biology Teacher, 41(3), 171-175. 1979.]])), but concept maps in their fullest form were introduced by Novak in 1981(([[http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=EJ239394|Novak, J. Applying learning psychology and philosophy to biology teaching. The American Biology Teacher, 43(1), 12 – 20. 1981.]])). In Novak's words, concept map is a
-recognize new relationships and meaning."(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])) Novak's works were influenced by [[http://www.davidausubel.org/|David Ausubel]]'s [[learning_theories:assimilation theory]].
+  * "//**visual representation of the relationships between concepts** held by an individual, materials of a lecture, textbook, or laboratory exercise.  By concept mapping even old and familiar material, we often recognize new relationships and meaning.//"(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]]))
+Novak's ideas were influenced by [[http://www.davidausubel.org/|David Ausubel]]'s [[learning_theories:assimilation theory]] and his hierarchical knowledge structure suggestions(([[http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryCmaps/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.htm|Novak, J. D, and A. J Canas. The theory underlying concept maps and how to construct and use them. Technical Report IHMC CmapTools, 2008.]])).
 ===== What is concept mapping? =====
+Concepts maps, first intended to be used in science education, are today used in other areas as well, as they can help both teachers and students.
+Concepts maps can help a teacher to **identify and organize concepts** he is about **to teach** and gain **insight to what the students already know** or how they view the topic from concept maps drawn by the students, so he knows what should be taught next. A teacher can also use them to(([[http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php|Zeilik, M. Classroom Assessment Techniques: Concept Mapping.]])):
+  * teach terms, facts, and concepts of given topic,
+  * organize information into meaningful categories and relate those categories on a more general level,
+  * synthesize and integrate learned information thereby strengthening long-term retention,
+  * develop creativity and higher-level thinking skills, strategies, and habit.
+To students concept maps give the ability to **organize** and **assess** their own knowledge. Learning here is manifested by **adding new concepts to the existing framework** of the concept map. This process is, according to Novak(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])), often accompanied by positive feelings. A step-by-step example on how to introduce and work on concept maps with students in classes can be found in [[http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php|Michael Zeilik's article on concept mapping]].
+Another important property of concept maps is that learning through adding new concept to them is inherently **meaningful learning**, since it establishes clear connections with the existing knowledge. **Rote learning** on the other hand is the result of **lack of established connections** to prior knowledge and forgetting of the learned information in 4-6 weeks(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])).
 Concept mapping presents the process of building concept maps. In order to successfully build concept maps, their terminology needs to be clarified. Novak defines **concepts** as **patterns or regularities** in objects (//things//) or events (//happenings//).(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]]))
@@ Line 13: / Line 30: @@
 For example, the //concept// "dog" is formed by a set of common characteristics of dogs. "Chihuahua", a specific kind of dog, would here be an //object//. Every person has a different "dog" concept since the set of common characteristics forming it may vary from person to person and generally depends on experience, context and perspective. Still, these concepts are usually similar enough to enable people to successfully communicate and think in terms of concepts and change them over time.
-On the visual level, a concept map is a hierarchical (general to specific) diagram containing nodes and links, both labeled with words or symbols.
+On the visual level, a concept map is a hierarchical (general to specific) diagram containing nodes and links, both labeled with words or symbols. The most important concept is usually placed in the center of the map or at its top. Novak describes the concept map building process in following steps(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])):
-Novak describes the concept map building process in following steps(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])):
-[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_map|{{  :images:conceptmap.jpg?630x450|Concept map on concept maps. Image borrowed from: Wikipedia: Concept map. Click on the picture to follow the link.}}]]
+{{  :images:concept.jpg|Concept map as introduced by Novak and Gowin. Image borrowed from: Novak, Joseph Donald, & Gowin, D. B. Learning how to learn. Cambridge University Press, 1984.}}
   - **Identify key concepts of the material** and list them or write them on pieces of paper to make them movable.
   - **Rank the concepts** by placing most general ones at the top of the map with respect to the context of the matherial.
@@ Line 24: / Line 40: @@
   - If desired, change or reorganize the map in accordance with the newly noted relations between the concepts. Concept maps for the same topic can be organized in more possible ways.
-Concepts maps were first meant to be used in science education. Today they are used in other areas as well, as they can help both teachers and students.
-Concepts maps can help a teacher to **identify and organize concepts** he is about **to teach** and * gain **insight to what the students already know** or how they view the topic from concept maps drawn by the students, so he knows what should be taught next. A teacher can also use them to(([[http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php|Zeilik, M. Classroom Assessment Techniques: Concept Mapping.]])):
+[[http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/maahlber/POSTERI_Handout_Real_web.htm|{{  :images:new_concept_map.jpg|Improved concept map, as suggested by Ahlberg. Image borrowed from: http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/m... Click on the picture to follow the link.}}]]
-  * teach terms, facts, and concepts of given topic,
-  * organize information into meaningful categories and relate those categories on a more general level,
-  * synthesize and integrate learned information thereby strengthening long-term retention,
-  * develop creativity and higher-level thinking skills, strategies, and habit.
-To students concept maps give the ability to **organize** and **assess** their own knowledge. Learning here is manifested by **adding new concepts to the existing framework** of the concept map. This process is, according to Novak(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])), often accompanied by positive feelings. A step-by-step example on how to introduce and work on concept maps with students in classes can be found in [[http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php|Michael Zeilik's article on concept mapping]].
 A set of improvements to concept mapping has been suggested by Ahlberg(([[http://cmc.ihmc.us/papers/cmc2004-206.pdf|Ahlberg, M. Varieties of Concept Mapping]])):
-  * all concepts are interpreted as main elements and should be inside frames, which was not the case in Novak's earlier works
+  * all **concepts** are interpreted as main elements and should be **inside frames**, which was not the case in Novak's earlier works
-  * there are no limits on the length of the labels since longer labels are sometimes required to offer accurate explanation
+  * there are **no limits on the length of the labels** since longer labels are sometimes required to offer accurate explanation
-  * connections should have arrowheads in order to point the direction of the connection
+  * connections should have **arrowheads** in order to point the direction of the connection
-  * pictures, videos or sounds may also be connected in a concept map
+  * **pictures, videos or sounds** may also be connected in a concept map
-  * concept mapping is a general method for knowledge representation and does not have to be associated exclusively with Ausubel's assimilation theory
+  * concept mapping is a **general method for knowledge representation** and does not have to be associated exclusively with Ausubel's assimilation theory
-  * concept maps do not have to be hierarchical (for example cyclic concept maps(([[http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/Cyclic%20Concept%20Maps.pdf|Safayeni, F., Derbentseva, N., & Cañas, A. J. Concept maps: A theoretical note on concepts and the need for cyclic concept maps. Manuscript submitted for publication. 2003.]])))
+  * concept maps do **not** have to be **hierarchical** (for example cyclic concept maps(([[http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/Cyclic%20Concept%20Maps.pdf|Safayeni, F., Derbentseva, N., & Cañas, A. J. Concept maps: A theoretical note on concepts and the need for cyclic concept maps. Manuscript submitted for publication. 2003.]])))
-  * a good concept map should have only one instance of each concept, which was not the rule in some Novak's works, sometimes due to a too large number of links connecting a certain concept
+  * a good concept map should have only **one instance of each concept**, which was not the rule in some Novak's works, sometimes due to a too large number of links connecting a certain concept
   * sometimes it is useful to suggest a way of reading a concept map (for example top to bottom or bottom to top)
-Another important property of concept maps is that learning through adding new concept to them is inherently **meaningful learning**, since it establishes clear connections with the existing knowledge. **Rote learning** on the other hand is the result of **lack of established connections** to prior knowledge and forgetting of the learned information in 4-6 weeks(([[http://uwf.edu/jgould/ConceptMappingIntro.pdf|Novak, J. D. Introduction to concept mapping.]])).
 Concept maps were earlier drawn by hand, but today a number of computer applications like the free [[http://cmap.ihmc.us/|IHMC CmapTools]] can be used to enhance this process.
 ===== Criticisms =====
 Concept mapping is a very well accepted and widely used method, but it:
-  * was designed mostly to represent declarative and not procedural knowledge or algorithms,
+  * was designed mostly to represent declarative and **not procedural knowledge** or algorithms,
-  * is a rather difficult and sometimes time-consuming cognitive task which requires training.
+  * is a rather **difficult** and sometimes **time-consuming cognitive task** which requires training, and
+  * there is no standardized way of scoring/comparing concept maps(([[file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/jpetrovic.WIN/Application%20Data/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/e7cnrf3r.default/zotero/storage/7Z7B9JXU/refined_concept_maps.pdf|Kharatmal, Meena, and G. Nagarjuna. A proposal to refine concept mapping for effective science learning. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Concept Mapping, 2006.]])).
 ===== Keywords and most important names =====
   * **Concept mapping**, **concept maps**, **concept**, **object**, **meaningful learning**
   * [[http://www.ihmc.us/groups/jnovak/|Joseph Novak]]
 ===== Bibliography =====

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