Concept Maps

A way to demonstrate understanding and seek new knowledge

What Are Concept Maps?

Concept maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge, and seeking new knowledge.

What Do They Look Like?

Concept maps include:Concepts, usually enclosed in circles or

boxes of some typeRelationships between concepts

indicated by a connecting line linking two concepts.

Words on the line, referred to as linking words or linking phrases, specify the relationship between the two concepts.

Propositions

The combination of two nodes and a labeled line is called a proposition. It is the basic unit of meaning in a concept

map The simplest concept map would be two

concepts connected by a linking word to form a proposition (Novak & Gowin, 1984, p. 15)For example, “seeds grow into plants.”

Concept maps, then, purport to represent some important aspects of a person's declarative knowledge in a content domain (e.g., physics).

What is a Concept?

We define concept as a perceived regularity in events or objects, or records of events or objects, designated by a label.

The label for most concepts is a word, although sometimes we use symbols such as + or %, and sometimes more than one word is used.

Propositions are statements about some object or event in the universe, either naturally occurring or constructed.

Propositions contain two or more concepts connected using linking words or phrases to form a meaningful statement. Sometimes these are called semantic

units, or units of meaning.

Hierarchy

A characteristic of concept maps is that the concepts are represented in a hierarchical fashion with the most inclusive, most general

concepts at the top of the map the more specific, less general concepts

arranged hierarchically below.

Cross-Links

Cross-links are an important characteristic of concept maps.

These are relationships or links between concepts in different segments or domains of the concept map. Cross-links help us see how a concept in one

domain of knowledge represented on the map is related to a concept in another domain shown on the map.

New Knowledge

In the creation of new knowledge, cross-links often represent creative leaps on the part of the knowledge producer.

New Knowledge

These two features are important in the facilitation of creative thinking:

The hierarchical structure The ability to search for and

characterize new cross-links.

Clarifying

We may add specific examples of events or objects that help to clarify the meaning of a given concept.

Normally these are not included in ovals or boxes They are specific events or objects and do

not represent concepts.

The Process

Brainstorming identify facts, terms, and ideas that you think are in anyway

associated with the topic Organizing

Spread out your concepts (Post-It® notes) on a flat surface so that all can be read easily and, together, create groups and sub-groups of related items.

Layout On a large sheet of paper, try to come up with an arrangement

(layout) Linking

Use lines with arrows to connect and show the relationship between connected items.

Finalizing convert the concept map into a permanent form that others can

view and discuss.

Context

It is important to begin with a domain of knowledge that is very familiar to the person constructing the map.

Concept map structures are dependent on the context in which they will be used. Best to identify a particular problem or question that

one is trying to understand. This creates a context that will help to

determine the hierarchical structure of the concept map. It is also helpful to select a limited domain of

knowledge for the first concept maps

The Focus Question

A good way to define the context for a concept map is to construct a Focus Question.

A question that clearly specifies the problem or issue the concept map should help to resolve. Every concept map responds to a focus

question, and a good focus question can lead to a much richer concept map.

Beginning the Map

Given a selected domain and a defined question or problem in this domain, the next step is to identify the key concepts that apply to this domain.

Usually 15 to 25 concepts will suffice.

Parking Lots

We refer to a list of concepts waiting to be added to a concept map as the parking lot of concepts.

The starting point for the construction of the concept map can be a list of concepts that the teacher wants to make sure all students include in their map.

Parking lot of Ideas

We then start with the most general concept and work toward the most specific adding connecting arrows and linking words.

Note: Not all the words in the parking lot were used, and these are yet to be added.

The Process

Brainstorming identify facts, terms, and ideas that you think are in anyway

associated with the topic Organizing

Spread out your concepts (Post-It® notes) on a flat surface so that all can be read easily and, together, create groups and sub-groups of related items.

Layout On a large sheet of paper, try to come up with an arrangement

(layout) Linking

Use lines with arrows to connect and show the relationship between connected items.

Finalizing convert the concept map into a permanent form that others can

view and discuss.

What is a Good Concept Map

Accuracy and Thoroughness. Are the concepts and relationships correct? Are important concepts missing? Are any misconceptions apparent?

Organization. Was the concept map laid out in a way that higher order relationships are apparent and easy to follow? Does it have a title?

Appearance. Was the assignment done with care showing attention to details such as spelling and penmanship? Is it neat and orderly or is it chaotic and messy?

Creativity. Are there unusual elements that aid communication or stimulate interest without being distracting?

Seasons

“Why do we have seasons?” Only eleven concepts, properly

organized are needed to understand why we have seasons, One arrangement of these concepts is

shown in the Figure.

Proposition: Without the industrial chemical reduction of atmospheric nitrogen, starvation would be rampant in third world countries.

FOOD

Human Healthand Survival

Contains

Required for

and

Requiring more

Essential Amino Acids

Animals

Used for

Such as

Madeby

Plants

Grains Legumes

Required forgrowth of

Symbiotic Bacteria

“Fixed” Nitrogen

Possess

That produce

Agricultural Practices

Population Growth

Politics

Economics

Distribution

Climate

Starvation and Famine

Malthus 1819

Eastern Europe

India

Africa

Deprivation leads to

Can be limited by

and

Such as in

Pesticides HerbicidesGenetics & Breeding

Irrigation

Fertilizer Which significantly supplements naturally

Such as

Predicted by

Ca

n b

e in

crea

sed

by

NH3Haber

ProcessAtmospheric N2

Protein

Includes

Eatenby

Use

d b

y h

um

an

s a

s

Monarch Butterfly Example

Where do we start?

Word brainstormWord brainstorm

south

north

temperature

Monarch butterfly

Mexico

milkweed

Fall migration

day lengthcaterpillar

metamorphosis

chrysalid

direction

flowers

instinct

Mountain top eggFebruary

Fall

Food sourcegenerations

What is next?

Either way, start to build the map by Either way, start to build the map by making relationships between the wordsmaking relationships between the words

Monarch butterfly

migration

metamorphosis

caterpillar

milkweed

habitat

chrysalid

Mexico

pesticide

Leads to

Is a

includ

es

Missouri

needs

incl

ude

s

and

development

Thre

aten

ed

by

does

and

insect

Is a

Parts of the concept mapParts of the concept map

Monarch butterfly

migration

metamorphosis

caterpillar

milkweed

habitat

chrysalid

Mexico

pesticide

Leads to

Is a

includ

es

Missouri

needs

incl

ude

s

and

development

Thre

aten

ed

by

does

and

insect

Is a

node

node

line

Linkin

g word

Dead end

Monarch butterfly

insecthabitat

needs

and

does

lays

pesticidesmigration

eggs

Is an

milkweedon

caterpillarGo

throughbeco

me

metamorphosis

beco

me eats

Is found in

in

fall

in

springSou

th to

Mexico

Nor

th t

o

East Coast

Oyamel fir

Roost

s in

Is winter

herbicides

Thre

aten

ed

by

In

agriculturelogging

development

lost

to

lost

to

Butterfly gardens

Impro

ved

by

contai

n

Three body parts

have

Problems?

What might be some things that could be improved with this concept map?

Sources

http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryCmaps/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.htm

http://www.udel.edu/chem/white/teaching/ConceptMap.html