Concept Mapping Tutorial

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Concept MappingTutorial
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What Is a Concept Map?

• Like all maps, concept maps are
  representations of spatial relationships.
• Rather than portraying the physical structure
  of space, concept maps reflect the psychological
  structure of an individuals knowledge.

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The Structure of Knowledge

• Theoretically, knowledge is structured as a
  semantic network (Collins Quillian, 1969).
  Thus, learning is not only the acquisition of new
  concepts but the construction of meaningful links
  among concepts (Ausubel, 1968).
• Concept maps show what individuals know and
  how their knowledge is structured.

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All Maps Have 3 Components

• Nodes represent concepts.
• Lines represent relations between concepts,
  arrowheads indicate direction.
• Labels on the lines describe the nature of the
  relationship.
• Combined, these three components create
  propositions or meaningful statements.

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Map structures can differ

• Because concepts are perceived regularities in
  events or objects, individuals can have different
  conceptual understandings of the same topic.
• Thus, concept maps can be intrinsically different
  without being wrong.
• The next two slides present two ways of
  structuring concept maps. They also provide more
  information about concept mapping.

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Hierarchical structure
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Non-hierarchical structure
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Beginning Your Concept Map

• Think about the focus question you have been
  given and identify 10 to 20 (or as requested) of
  the most pertinent concepts (single words or
  three words at most).
• List these concepts on a piece of paper, and
  then write each one on a separate post-it note.

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Two Options for Arranging Concepts

• You can structure your map hierarchically by
  placing the most inclusive, most general
  concept(s) at the top and less important concepts
  at the bottom (see Figure 1).
• You may also create a non-hierarchical network.
  In this case, there is no superordinate concept
  the map is structured like a web (see Figure 2).

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Creating Propositions

• Draw your array of post-it notes on a piece
  of paper.
• Think about which concepts are related.
  Connect related concepts with lines.
• Label the lines with one or a few linking words.
  Linking words should define the relationship
  between the two concepts. For example, involves
  and such as are linking words. Each pair of
  linked concepts should read like a sentence.

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Indicating the Direction of the Relationship

• Add arrowheads to the lines between the
  concepts to indicate the direction of the
  relationship.
• Depending on the nature of the concepts
  relationship, lines can have single or double
  arrowheads. Causal relationships are
  one-directional. Mutually influential
  relationships require double-headed arrows.

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Concept Map Notation

• Unidirectional relationship
• Bidirectional relationship

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Reflect on Your Map

• Think about your concept map.
• Do the propositions youve created make sense?
  
• Is there a better way to present your
  concepts? If so, feel free to move your concepts
  around, adding or deleting concepts or links.

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An Alternative Way to Create Concept Maps

• A tool for creating concept maps
  electronically is available for free download at
  http//cmap.coginst.uwf.edu/. On this web site
  you will also see a fairly extensive tutorial to
  help you get started with the program.

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How to Enable Arrowheads
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Getting Your Map to Us

• We will accept maps hand drawn on a single sheet
  of paper.
• We would prefer that the maps be done with the
  cmap tools program that is downloadable.
• Maps may also be done with tools such as
  Microsoft Visio, but are not as easily
  manipulated.