concept mapping in practice

8/8/2019 Concept Mapping in Practice

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CONCEPT MAPPING IN PRACTICE


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CONTENTS

Definition and substance of Concept maps;

Significance and outspread;

Historical background, basing theoriesConcept maps in practice;

Basic method to create a concept map;

Software overview.


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DEFINITIONS AND SUBSTANCE OF C. MAPS

Concept maps diagrams that graphically represent

knowledge and that are comprised of concepts and the

relationships between them;

Concept mapping structured process, focused on a

topic or construct of interest, involving input from one

or more participants, that produces an interpretablepictorial view (concept map) of their ideas and

concepts and how these are interrelated.


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DEFINITIONS AND SUBSTANCE OF C. MAPS (2)

Concept mapping can be done for the following different

main purposes:

1. to generate ideas (brain storming, etc.);

2. to design a complex structure (long texts, hypermedia,

large web sites, etc.);

3. to communicate complex ideas;

4. to aid learning by explicitly integrating new and old

knowledge;5. to assess understanding or diagnose misunderstanding.

Concept maps externalize and make explicit the conceptual

knowledge that people hold in a knowledge domain.


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IMPORTANCE AND OUTSPREAD

C. Maps just another tool of graphical representation ofinformation.

However!

It's really profound and powerful tool when the technique is

understood properly and when concept maps are createdcarefully.

Outspread today in education and business because:

Concept maps have ability to display forms ofsuperordinate thinking => can communicate complex problems;

C. Maps stimulate the generation of ideas, and arebelieved to aid creativity;


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HISTORY

Late 1960-s mid 1970s.

A research group ofJoseph D. Novak,

PhD (Cornell University & Institute for

Human and Machine Cognition,

University of West Florida, USA);

Workon concept maps was based

on a theoryofknowledge and a

theoryof

lear

ning;

New way of thinking constructivist

epistemology;

Positivistic epistemology is accepted

as dying away.

Joseph Novak!


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HISTORY(2)

Learning does not occur by this model:

Simple

pouring

of information

into learners

head when rote

learning is

exercised


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HISTORY(3)

Rather learning occurs by this model:

Processing of

knowledge

through threedifferent

memory

systems when

meaningful

learning is

exercised


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CONCEPT MAPS IN PRACTICE: EDUCATION

Concept maps an effective tool for mapping

the conceptual human systems.

Visual specifications in the form of a concept

map can be used in learning systems (E-

learning) and in traditional classroom training.

Basically, concept mapping has its roots in

education, and education and learning probably

still constitutes the bulk of its use.


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CONCEPT MAPS IN PRACTICE: EDUCATION (2)

In teaching Concept maps can be used for:

Explanation of topics; when using concept maps

complex concepts can be clarified andpresented in a systematic manner;

Reinforcement of understanding; using conceptmaps can reinforce the understanding and

memorization of training material by thestudent;

Checking the knowledge and identifying wronglylearned material;


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CONCEPT MAPS IN PRACTICE: BUSINESS

Basic application areas in business and management:

Concept mapping as means to reveal expert-novice

differences;

Concept mapping as means to support the design of new

technologies;

Brainstorming techniques; Training and performance support.


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METHODS TO CREATE A CONCEPT MAP

Variety of methods. The particular method that is

employed depends on the purpose of map construction.

A standard concept map construction method defined byNovak & Gowin (1984) involves a series of steps:

1) to define the topic or focus question;

2) to identify and list the most important or general

concepts that are associated with that topic;

3) hierarchical arrangement or morphology;


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METHODS TO CREATE A CONCEPT MAP (2)

links are added to form a preliminary concept map;

linking phrases are added to describe the

relationships among concepts;

to look for cross-links which link together conceptsthat are in different areas or sub-domains on the

map. Cross-links help to elaborate how concepts

are interrelated;

finally, the map is reviewed and anynecessarychanges to structure or content are made.


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SOME SOFTWARE TOOLS

SMART Ideas (Smart Technologies)

This tool allows users to create multi-level

Concept Maps toorganize ideas, to link Concept

Maps to files and Web sites, to switch betweendiagram and outline views, and to publish

Concept Maps on the Web.


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SOME SOFTWARE TOOLS(2)

Inspiration

Inspiration uses a web as a basic graph structure,

and repositions the initially entered concept in

the middle of the screen. This tool does notenforce any particulargraph structure, and the

representation does not require linking phrases.

The software allows the user to switch from

graph tooutline view and back..


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SOME SOFTWARE TOOLS(3)

LifeMap

LifeMap provides the capability to make Vee

diagrams as described in Novak & Gowin (1984).


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Thankyou foryour attention!

concept mapping in practice

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