1. Concept Mapping
Creating and using concept maps: better understanding, better retention and problem solving

2. What is a concept map?
Type of Brainstorming: encourages generation of new material including different interpretations and new perspectives

3. Knowledge Organization
Demonstration of how organizing knowledge according to hierarchies that highlight relationships between ideas accelerates learning, enhances memory and problem solving

4. Accelerated Learning through Reorganization
How many B’s were in the list?
How many D’s were in the list?
Was the letter P in the list?
Does it make sense to add the following letters to the list
F O X?
A B C?

5. FBI CBS UFO USA NBC CIA ESP
US Agencies TV Networks Para Psych
FBI NBC UFO
CIA CBS ESP
USA

9. Why do you need concept mapping?
To reorganize poorly organized information
Identifies central concept (idea)
Helps illuminate connections
Reduces large amounts of information to a single sheet of paper
Effective way to verify what you are learning
Identify gaps in knowledge
Efficient & effective way to review for exams

10. How does it look like?
Pictorial Representation of the Main Concepts & Relationships
Central idea 1 ? ? ?

11. Interrelated Concepts
Central idea 1
Central idea 2

12. Avoid Dispersed (Encyclopedic) Knowledge
Don’t rely on the given sequence
Don’t learn line by line:
rote memorization will not help the Lincoln penny example
Don’t emphasize learning details (you can add these later)

13. Enhance Elaborated Knowledge
Identify optimal organizational framework (the Big Picture!)
Look for or make summaries that capture the hierarchy & important relationships
Learn details last (this may require memorization)

14. 6 Steps to Making a Concept Map
Identify central concept(s)
Identify major topics covered within the central concept
Identify subtopics
Map all topics and subtopics with labeled links that indicate relationship
Add details
Review and elaborate further

16. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 1: Identify the main heading
Usually in the chapter title or the section heading
Place in center of page (or at top) in box or a circle

17. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 2: Identify the major topics covered
Find topics covered by chapter or section
Limit to six concepts at the beginning
Map these topics around the main concept
Look for relationships to organize the concepts
Begin to draw connections (use lines, arrows etc)
Label the lines with verbs to indicate relationship of one concept to the next

18. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 3: Identify Major Sub-topics
Subtopics are: categories, lists of components, steps in a process, characteristics, or cause-and-effect relationships.
Return to your notes or text to review, clarify and elaborate terms and identify new terms to add

19. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 4: Begin to draw the map
Map all topics and subtopics with labeled links that indicate relationships
Draw lines and label connections to show similarities and differences
The concept map should begin to look like a web

20. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 5: Add details and elaborate
For each sub-topic, add details
Details include: facts, definitions, descriptions, specific examples, exceptions, etc.

21. Steps to creating a concept map
Step 6: Expand concept map
Build upon layers of visual connections
You may discover that you need additional information on topics or that your understanding is less than complete.

22. What can be mapped? Pretty much anything!!

23. Cell Structure and Function

24. General Suggestions Create rough and final drafts of your concept maps
Use plain paper – lined paper may hinder thought
USE COLOR – consider investing in a good set of colored pencils and use highlighters to emphasize important concepts

25. General Suggestions
Use shorthand, abbreviations, symbols – avoid writing sentences – make sure you can decipher your ‘codes”
Develop on your own – then share and revise in groups
Keep all of your concept maps together(comes in handy when studying for tests)

26. Digestion in Stomach

27. Concept mapping with groups
Consider creating a concept map study group
Group members create their own concept maps then they come together to compare and contrast their maps

28. Group revised maps will:
Improve understanding – groups can facilitate understanding of concepts and relationships
Assure Accuracy – when working with a group you can check the content of your concept map against the content of your peers’ map
Add information – after working with groups, you may discover that you need additional information

29. Reflecting on the concept map Metacognition
Did the concept map help you understand the information?
Did making the concept map help you identify difficult concepts?
Did making the concept map help you understand key relationships?
Did you reorganize the content for your map?
Was comparing maps helpful?
Which would you rather use to study from: a map or the syllabus?