Educational Technology 11 – Educ 4039
September 15, 2009
Class 2 (3 Hours)
Dr. Diane P. Janes – Diane_Janes@cbu.ca – Office hours by appointment – Phone: 563-1236

What is Concept Mapping?
Concept mapping is a technique for representing knowledge in graphs. Knowledge graphs are networks of concepts. Networks consist of nodes (points/vertices) and links (arcs/edges). Nodes represent concepts and links represent the relations between concepts.
Concepts and sometimes links are labeled. Links can be non-, uni- or bi-directional. Concepts and links may be categorized; they can be simply associative, specified or divided in categories such as causal or temporal relations.
Concept mapping can be done for several purposes:
• to generate ideas (brain storming, etc.);
• to design a complex structure (long texts, hypermedia, large web sites, etc.);
• to communicate complex ideas;
• to aid learning by explicitly integrating new and old knowledge;
• to assess understanding or diagnose misunderstanding.
The concept mapping technique was developed by Prof. Joseph D. Novak at Cornell University in the 1960s. This work was based on the theories of David Ausubel, who stressed the importance of prior knowledge in being able to learn about new concepts. Novak concluded that "Meaningful learning involves the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing cognitive structures".
Mind Mapping® is a popular related technique, invented (and copyrighted) by Tony Buzan in the UK. He describes mind maps as: "a mind map consists of a central word or concept, around the central word you draw the 5 to 10 main ideas that relate to that word. You then take each of those child words and again draw the 5 to 10 main ideas that relate to each of those words."
The difference between concept maps and mind maps is that a mind map has only one main concept, while a concept map may have several. This comes down to the point that a mind map can be represented as a tree, while a concept map may need a network representation.
An Example Concept Map
Here is an example of a concept map. In this example the nodes are labeled, the links are also labeled and uni-directional.

Advantages of Mapping
Mapping may be seen as a type of brainstorming. Both Mapping and brainstorming may be used to encourage the generation of new material, such as different interpretations and viewpoints: however, Mapping relies less on intentionally random input, whereas, during brainstorming, one may try to think up wild, zany, off-the-wall ideas and connections.
Brainstorming attempts to encourage highly divergent "lateral" thinking, whereas Mapping, by its structure, provides opportunity for convergent thinking, fitting ideas together, as well as thinking up new ideas, since it requires all ideas to be connected to the centre, and possibly to one another.
Paradoxically, the results of brainstorming usually appear on paper as lists or grids - both unavoidably linear structures: top to bottom, left to right. Mapping is less constrictive -- no idea takes precedence arbitrarily (e.g., by being at the "top" of the list).
Here are some advantages of Mapping, which will become more apparent to you after you have practiced this technique a few times:
• It clearly defines the central idea, by positioning it in the centre of the page.
• It allows you to indicate clearly the relative importance of each idea.
• It allows you to figure out the links among the key ideas more easily. This is particularly important for creative work such as essay writing.
• It allows you to see all your basic information on one page.
• As a result of the above, and because each Map will look different, it makes recall and review more efficient.
• It allows you to add in new information without messy scratching out or squeezing in.
• It makes it easier for you to see information in different ways, from different viewpoints, because it does not lock it into specific positions.
• It allows you to see complex relationships among ideas, such as self-perpetuating systems with feedback loops, rather than forcing you to fit non-linear relationships to linear formats, before you have finished thinking about them.
• It allows you to see contradictions, paradoxes, and gaps in the material — or in your own interpretation of it — more easily, and in this way provides a foundation for questioning, which in turn encourages discovery and creativity.
Once you have a draft of your concept map, stop and ask questions about the material on the Concept-Map:
• How do the parts fit together?
• Does it all make sense? Why, or why not?
• Is there anything missing, unclear, or problematic about it?
• How does it fit with other course material? How does it fit with your personal experience? Are there parts that do not fit? Why not?
• What are the implications of the material?
• Could there be other ways of looking at it?
• Is the material true in all cases?
• How far does its usefulness extend?
• What more do you need to find out?
Of course, not all of these questions will apply to every Map; however, the more closely you look at the material, the more questions will come to you. Try to think of the central, most important question about the material: if something does not make sense, or seems unresolved, try to state explicitly why, in what way, there is a problem. This may be difficult to do, but it is worth the effort, because it will make it easier for you to find an answer.
Concept Mapping Links
The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct Them by Joseph D. Novak, Cornell University can be found at this concept mapping website, with an excellent definition of concept mapping as well as the theory behind them and an excellent reference list, for further exploration. http://web.archive.org/web/20041129092327/http://cmap.coginst.uwf.edu/info/printer.html
This web page is just called Concept Mapping, but it includes some interesting materials. http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/composition/handouts/concept.html
This site on Cognitive Flexibility Theory (by R. Spiro, P. Feltovitch & R. Coulson) gives you additional information on what the theory behind concept map thinking. http://tip.psychology.org/spiro.html

Inspiration Software
The 30-day trial http://www.inspiration.com/
The web based version http://www.mywebspiration.com/
Kidspiration - the tool for kids to create concept maps http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration
Alternatives
CMAP tools - http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/
Concept Web Generator http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/concept_web/
Free Mind - http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Video:
Concept Mapping: How to Start Your Term Paper Research
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhgxuNvbNrA
Classroom Assessment Technique: Concept Maps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm1owf0uGFM&feature=related
Benefit of Concept Mapping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl0OBLCujRQ


Assignment 2 — Concept Mapping
This assignment is designed for 2 or 3 students, who have formed a group to work on Assignments 2 AND 3.
By Week 2, you should have downloaded the demo, or installed the software supplied you have chosen and be using the online tutorial to become familiar with how the software works.
Groups should be formed by the end of Week 3, at the latest! Talk to your Instructor if you are having difficulties.
Using the software program Inspiration or similar program, brainstorm with your group and create a concept map for your multimedia module, using some of the guidelines and principles that have been discussed in your readings or seen in other multimedia that you have been examining for this course.
Begin by choosing a topic or theme, being aware that depending on your choice, your actual multimedia module may only be a small part of the whole idea. Clearly work through together, the concepts that need to be included in the multimedia project, as described in Assignment 3.
This assignment should include a brief description of your learners, the context for the learning and a fully formed concept map, the names of your group and preliminary ideas for what section of the concept map might be used in a multimedia format.
This assignment should not exceed a 1 page concept map and 2 pages of description, for a maximum of 3 pages, in total. The description should not exceed 1,000 words.
Due Date for Assignment 2
Week 5 of the course – October 13th
Assessment
The concept map will be 10% of the total mark.
Marking Criteria
1. clarity of ideas
2. suitability of ideas
3. appropriate level of depth for student population chosen
4. depth of mapping
5. comfort with software
6. overall continuity and creativity