Teaching and assessing content literacy using Cmaps Worth Swearingen

Worth Swearingen Aiken High School wswearingen@acpsd.net

Presentation Puzzler How does learning go beyond learning by rote? Use what you know about rote learning to add concepts from the concept bank to the Cmap. Page 1 of handout

Presentation Puzzler

Essential Question Why do teachers need tools to assess prior knowledge, present new concepts, and thus increase content literacy?

Agenda Model Cmaps and some of their uses How Cmaps show what you know Scaffolding Presentation How Cmaps show what you know Anatomy of a Cmap A little theory How Cmaps solved a research problem Demonstration Create a Cmap and assess it using a rubric.

Meeting Outcomes After this presentation you will be able to: make and assess Cmaps; explain how learning theory supports Cmap design; and track down resources to help you incorporate Cmaps into lessons and assessments.

Using a Cmap Cmaps show what you know. Cmaps can be used to assess students prior knowledge. Cmaps can serve as scaffolding. They also help organize your presentation. Cmaps show what you know.

Anatomy of a Cmap A more detailed explanation of Cmaps is included in your packet on page 2.

Ausubel: A little theory Learning Theorist Constructivist: Think Piaget Cognitive structure + New concepts = Learning Key difference with Piaget: Teachers and students build cognitive structure. David Ausubel (1918 – 2008) “The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.”

Novak: maps solve a problem Inventor of Cmaps Retired education professor at Cornell Works at IHMC, maker of CmapTools Based Cmaps on Ausubel’s theory Joseph Novak (1932 – present)

Novak: Cmaps solve a problem Cmaps represent knowledge – they show what you know.

Prepare a Cmap Read the article excerpt. Focus question: Why should you not use a Q- tip to clean the wax out of your ears? Concepts: Balls of wax Ear canal Ear drum Ear wax Otolaryngologist QTip Talking and chewing Read the article excerpt. Create 2 or 3 propositions using the concepts I gave to your group. Add one or two propositions to the board. Image source: http://www.theworld-aroundus.com/health/the-dangers-of-putting-cotton-buds-in-your-ear-why-cant-we-resist-the-temptation-despite-the-warnings/ (Retrieved 6/18/2017)

Suggestions for starting a Cmap Focus question: Why should you not use a Q- tip to clean the wax out of your ears? Concepts: Balls of wax Ear canal Ear drum Ear wax Otolaryngologist QTip Talking and chewing Suggested steps Settle on a focus question. Choose key concepts and arrange them in groups loosely from general to specific. Add linking words. Iterate and enhance. Edit the focus question, concepts and links. Rearrange Add crosslinks and examples.

Assessing student work Several rubrics are provided in a PDF produced by the Center for Teaching at the University of Iowa. Link on page 6 - I can email a copy on request. Most use a standard tabular design Using a criterion Cmap Create and score a criterion Cmap Score student Cmap Grade is based on the ratio of student’s points to criterion points.

Need more help? Resources: See page 9 of the handout. Questions? IHMC offers lots of help, including CmapTools in the Cloud. Brainpop has a good video to introduce students to Cmaps. Please consider me a resource. Questions?

Cmaps don’t have to be boring

Revisiting the Outcomes and EQ After this presentation you will be able to: make and assess Cmaps; explain how learning theory supports Cmap design; and track down additional resources. Why do teachers need tools to assess prior knowledge, present new concepts, and thus increase content literacy?

A student’s review of Cmaps Concept maps are hard to study from.​ When you're doing it though, you're sorta studying it. If ya make 'em good they can help you.​ They make ya read the book.​ I'd rather not do them.

A student’s review of Cmaps Concept maps are hard to study from.​ When you're doing it though, you're sorta studying it. If ya make 'em good they can help you.​ They make ya read the book.​ I'd rather not do them.

Worth Swearingen Aiken High School wswearingen@acpsd.net