Concept Mapping
Concept mapping is a method of organizing, learning, and representing knowledge. It is an active approach to learning that goes beyond simply reading a chapter, taking notes, and/or highlighting key concepts.
Why do I want to learn concept mapping? Concept mapping is, for most of us, a new way to learn. Teaching you a new way to learn is my way of helping you gain skills that will contribute to your success beyond the classroom. Research on how learning works points to the fact that "it is not just what you know but how your organize what you know that influences learning and performance" (Ambrose et al. 2010:65). I focus on concept mapping because it is a key skill you can use to help you learn the many things you will need to learn beyond college. It improves critical thinking, knowledge retention, and can be applied in your other courses and in your life.
How to Construct a Concept Map
Click here for instruction and Frequently Asked Questions. Click here for sample maps.
Canas and Novak (2009), Constructing Your First Concept Map
CMAP tools help (includes videos etc.)
A good how-to video on YouTube
Very short YouTube video on CMAP
How will a Concept Map be Graded?
Your concept map will receive an evaluation of "acceptable" (2 points), "marginal" (1 point), or "unacceptable" (0 points) based on the rubric here. An acceptable concept map will take at least several hours to construct and revise and cannot be completed without a careful reading of the text. To receive credit for your map it must be submitted by its due date; late maps are not accepted.
You may revise and re-submit (once) your first submitted Concept Map to improve its evaluation. If you don't understand why you did not receive full credit for the map, please speak with me so I can help you before you re-submit. Please submit the revision to me via email within two weeks from when I graded and returned your original assignment.
Software Options
CMAP (free) - I strongly recommend you use this software; I think it is the best for our purposes. Ignore the graphic on the
right side of the CMAP webpage that says "Download." This is an ad and not the place to download CMAP. Download the full
version of Cmap, not CmapLite. CmapLite won't allow you to export your map as a pdf.
VUE (Visual Understanding Environment) from Tufts University (free). I have not tried this software.
Inspiration (not free but less than $10). There's also a iPad version. I have not tried this software.
XMind (free). Not recommended because it does not allow the same flexibility with linking words and moving concept boxes as
CMAP.
List of concept mapping software
Sources and more information:
Carleton College, Developing Concept Maps
Jones et al. (2012), The Effects of Mind Mapping Activities on Students' Motivation
Kiewra, Using Graphic Organizers to Improve Teaching and Learning
Novak and Canas (2008), The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use
Novak (nd), Introduction to Concept Mapping
Canas et al. (2003), A Summary of Literature Pertaining to the Use of Concept Mapping Techniques and Technologies...
Stout, Karen, Western Washington University, Classroom Assessment Technique: Concept Maps
Zeilik, Classroom Assessment Techniques Concept Mapping
Horton et al. (1993), An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Concept Mapping as an Instructional Tool
Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education (2003), Graphic Organizers: A Review of Scientifically Based Research
Morse, Jutras (2008), Implementing Concept-based Learning in a Large Undergraduate Classroom
Additional sources and research supporting the use of concept mapping...
Concept mapping is a method of organizing, learning, and representing knowledge. It is an active approach to learning that goes beyond simply reading a chapter, taking notes, and/or highlighting key concepts.
Why do I want to learn concept mapping? Concept mapping is, for most of us, a new way to learn. Teaching you a new way to learn is my way of helping you gain skills that will contribute to your success beyond the classroom. Research on how learning works points to the fact that "it is not just what you know but how your organize what you know that influences learning and performance" (Ambrose et al. 2010:65). I focus on concept mapping because it is a key skill you can use to help you learn the many things you will need to learn beyond college. It improves critical thinking, knowledge retention, and can be applied in your other courses and in your life.
How to Construct a Concept Map
Click here for instruction and Frequently Asked Questions. Click here for sample maps.
Canas and Novak (2009), Constructing Your First Concept Map
CMAP tools help (includes videos etc.)
A good how-to video on YouTube
Very short YouTube video on CMAP
How will a Concept Map be Graded?
Your concept map will receive an evaluation of "acceptable" (2 points), "marginal" (1 point), or "unacceptable" (0 points) based on the rubric here. An acceptable concept map will take at least several hours to construct and revise and cannot be completed without a careful reading of the text. To receive credit for your map it must be submitted by its due date; late maps are not accepted.
You may revise and re-submit (once) your first submitted Concept Map to improve its evaluation. If you don't understand why you did not receive full credit for the map, please speak with me so I can help you before you re-submit. Please submit the revision to me via email within two weeks from when I graded and returned your original assignment.
Software Options
CMAP (free) - I strongly recommend you use this software; I think it is the best for our purposes. Ignore the graphic on the
right side of the CMAP webpage that says "Download." This is an ad and not the place to download CMAP. Download the full
version of Cmap, not CmapLite. CmapLite won't allow you to export your map as a pdf.
VUE (Visual Understanding Environment) from Tufts University (free). I have not tried this software.
Inspiration (not free but less than $10). There's also a iPad version. I have not tried this software.
XMind (free). Not recommended because it does not allow the same flexibility with linking words and moving concept boxes as
CMAP.
List of concept mapping software
Sources and more information:
Carleton College, Developing Concept Maps
Jones et al. (2012), The Effects of Mind Mapping Activities on Students' Motivation
Kiewra, Using Graphic Organizers to Improve Teaching and Learning
Novak and Canas (2008), The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use
Novak (nd), Introduction to Concept Mapping
Canas et al. (2003), A Summary of Literature Pertaining to the Use of Concept Mapping Techniques and Technologies...
Stout, Karen, Western Washington University, Classroom Assessment Technique: Concept Maps
Zeilik, Classroom Assessment Techniques Concept Mapping
Horton et al. (1993), An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Concept Mapping as an Instructional Tool
Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education (2003), Graphic Organizers: A Review of Scientifically Based Research
Morse, Jutras (2008), Implementing Concept-based Learning in a Large Undergraduate Classroom
Additional sources and research supporting the use of concept mapping...
