Concept Mapping

Jaime Oyarzo Espinosa (jaime.oyarzo@uah.es)

e-Learning Consultant, Lund University Education, Sweden

Associated Teacher, Computer Sciences, Alcala University, Spain

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Types of visual representations

• Data

• Information

• Concepts, ideas

• Strategy

• Metaphor

• Compound

PROCESS

STRUCTURE

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Why represent knowledge?

A highly individual decision

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19.06.2008

Use in teaching and research

• Identifying relationships between concept

• Facilitates understanding, retention and recall

• Better structured knowledge and reasoning

• Knowledge is processed and actively revised

• Allows for reflexive thinking, self-dialogue and creative associations

• Stimulates the exploration/resolution of cognitive conflicts

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19.06.2008

Contexts of use

Delivered by teacher- presentation

- summary- organisation

Constructed by student(s)- taking notes

- comparison with peers- organisation

- revising

For one’s own work- identifying ideas and processes- summary of previous knowledge- organisation of documentation

- sharing and collaborating

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19.06.2008

Segmentation

LINK

(nature of relationship)can be color coded

is called a proposition

A concept map = a series of propositions

NODE(concept)

(idea) = word (s)

can be color or form coded

NODE(concept)

(idea)= word (s)

can be color or form coded

this

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Types of spatial configurations

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Types of spatial configurations

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Types of spatial configurations

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

Tree form(central concept, clusters)

Free form(network, system)

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Concept mapping: a fruitful exercise

• Understand the process of mapping• Begin with a simple topic, using a small

number of concepts• Work through example(s)• Think about all possible links• Write down the nature of the links• There is no single “correct” answer• Use arrows and their direction in

describing the proposition.

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Software

MindManager or FreeMind ?

Inspiration ?

CMapTools ?

PersonalBrain ?

Compendium ?

Other software ?

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CMapToolsCMapTools

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