Using concept maps#

A great benefit of concept maps is that you can fit them to your style of thinking and learning—not the other way around! This means you can be highly creative with just about any material you have to study or learn. In this module I provide you with some general guidance and tips for using concept maps, including:

• Creating concept maps. General guidance for creating and revising concept maps.

• Using concept maps for learning and memorizing. How to make the most of your concept maps for learning and memorizing new information.

• Using concept maps while studying. Some ideas for using concept maps to improve study habits.

• Using concept maps as a teaching tool. Some tips for teachers using concept maps.

• Keeping limitations in mind. Concept maps are just one way to improve learning. There are many others.

 Creating concept maps#

Study and practice will make constructing concept maps second nature for you. Below are some guidelines that will help you construct any kind of concept map with a minimum of difficulty.

Gather concept map-making materials#

Unless you have the appropriate software for making concept maps, the first step you’ll need to take is to gather all your materials. This will avoid the nuisance of having to find a pencil or other item once you get started on the project, resulting in a break in concentration. So, have on hand paper, a ruler, colored markers, and any other items necessary to complete a concept map.

Gather research materials#

Research materials can include notes, books, articles, photographs, diagrams—whatever is required to give you the raw information needed to construct a concept map.

Choose your concept map format#

Choose the concept map format based on your own learning preference, the subject matter and by taking the formats out for a “test drive”. Try doing quick sketches in different formats and simply let your imagination flow by playing around with each format. The test drives will show you how different formats are appropriate for different kinds of information.

Make your first map#

As with any activity, practice makes you better at concept mapping. A good first step is to relax and let your mind “free associate.” Let whatever thoughts regarding the subject rise in your thoughts. This is a good way to get the creative juices flowing. Then, draw rough drafts or “thumbnail” sketches of your visual impressions. For example, let’s assume you have an assignment that asks the question “Should there be a ban on commercial fishing in the XYZ area?” There are many thoughts that might float to the surface of your mind on this topic—fishery depletion, loss of employment, damage to the economy, etc. After you’ve written down several of these thoughts, you might decide to use a spider map format to show the pros and cons of this issue. On one side of this issue, there are topics such as depletion of fisheries and biodiversity, and you should depict those ideas on the map. On the other side of the issue, you should also depict topics related to the towns and families that rely on fishing income. There are also issues of fishing and international treaties, commercial fishing vs. recreational fishing, etc. In other words, you should try to come up with a map that represents the whole issue.

One tip is to lay out all the concepts you need to link together on Post-It notes or pieces of paper. If you are using a computer, lay them out on the screen without linking them together. Stick the Post-It notes to the wall, move the paper around on the floor, or rearrange the concepts on-screen until you have a basic structure working for you. You can then make changes easily until its close. Once you are happy with the layout of concepts, add in the links and relationships.

I suggest you don’t attempt to get it “exactly right” first time. Be prepared to scribble out, move concepts and branches around, and make corrections as you go. If you are able to use a white board or computer, these can help you make changes more easily.

Revise and try alternatives#

Revise as often as necessary to get the visual picture of the concept complete. If it’s a complex idea that you’re trying to explain, it may take several drafts until you’re satisfied with your work. As you work through the drafts, ask yourself if your visual presentation is working for you. Perhaps look at it from someone else’s point of view. Will it convince the viewer that your work is interesting? Does it help convince the viewer that the subject matter is important and inviting? To make the concept map interesting, perhaps add different colors and shapes to emphasize key ideas.

Try using various alternative map formats, even if you’ve spent some time on one format already. If you feel you are not getting anywhere with one map format, even sketching out ideas in another format can help you see information in a new way, and help you get past your block. Do quick sketches to see if your ideas might work better in a new format.

Keep a record of your concept maps#

This won’t be hard if you work on software. You can simply store the files on your computer. But, if you work with pen/pencil and paper, be sure to keep copies. It can save you time in the future because a concept map on one subject might just fit for another topic! Keep the copies in a folder or binder. Be sure to place a “master concept map” on the cover or in the front of the binder. This will give an easy and instant reference to the contents so you won’t have to waste time by searching through all your folders.

Using concept maps for learning and memorizing#

Concept maps can help you learn material in several ways. First, using maps helps you explore new content in a more effective way than just reading text. It helps you visualize key ideas and the connections between those ideas by letting you organize them into a visual format. Second, it furthers understanding when you re-draw the concept maps into a more accurate representation of the key ideas and connections. Third, constructing a concept map helps you to extract the central meanings of the concepts you’re studying. You can then take those concepts and turn them into assertions (training affirmations) and questions. You can then use these assertions and questions to outline and write presentations, reports, papers, or any other form required by your teacher. You can also use concept maps as graphics to illustrate main points in any academic, business, or scientific presentations or papers. Overall, concept mapping is an effective way of refining your creative and critical thinking which, in turn, leads to increased success in learning.

Before you start a new topic, try drawing a map that shows your current understanding of the subject. Keep it and use it later to compare with the final concept maps you create. This will show you the increased understanding you’ve achieved through your work. Another useful technique is to draw a concept map as you read a book or reference. This speeds your comprehension of a subject and makes overall learning quicker and easier. You can also ask others (e.g. children, students, clients, etc.) to create initial concept maps. This will allow you (and them!) to understand their current knowledge level of a particular topic.

Concept maps are not only useful in increasing learning! They also help you retain and remember key ideas because you can use them for long-term information storage and review. You can do this using Refresh Reviews. Refresh Reviews are a primary Memletics strategy for achieving long-term retention. A Refresh Review is simply a technique of regularly reviewing information after you’ve completed a course. It’s a means of making sure that information stays in your mind. A Refresh Review may take a few minutes a week or a few hours a month. The times will vary according to how important the knowledge is and how often you use it. During those times, you can refer to your concept maps to gain a quick overview of the information and the organization of its key concepts. The result will be that you remember information longer and more effectively.

Using concept maps while studying#

Concept maps are a very helpful tool for studying materials. They help you organize and analyze study sessions, which means you learn more quickly and efficiently. They’re also extremely effective in communicating what you’ve learned to others. You can use them in papers, slides, PowerPoint presentations, overheads, flipcharts and other visual media. So, employ them whenever possible when studying or communicating ideas. Also, don’t forget to use them during lectures to take and organize notes. It will help make the lecturer’s subject clearer to you. Be sure to ask the lecturer for concept maps. He or she may have them available in print or online.

Using concept maps as a teaching tool#

J.D. Novak of Cornell University developed the use of IHMC concept mapping as a teaching strategy in the early 1980s. He partly derived the strategy from David Ausubel’s learning theory. This theory places primary emphasis on the influence of students’ prior knowledge upon subsequent meaningful learning. According to Ausubel, “the most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows.” This means that meaningful learning results when a person ties new knowledge to concepts they already possess. Ausubel’s theory suggests that meaningful learning produces a series of changes within our minds. These changes modify existing concepts and form new linkages between concepts. This results in meaningful learning that’s lasting and powerful unlike rote learning. For your purposes, this means that concept mapping helps you and your students build upon your existing knowledge of a subject to understand it more completely. It also helps your students apply that knowledge more effectively in class, tests, jobs, and other areas of their life.

From a teaching perspective, concept mapping is useful in several ways:

• Teaching a topic. Through use of concept maps, you can clarify difficult concepts and arrange them in a systematic order. Concept mapping helps you communicate key concepts and relationships among those concepts. It also helps you convey a clear picture of the topics and their relationships to your students. This means that students are less likely to miss and misinterpret any important concepts.

• Reinforcing understanding. Use of concept maps reinforces student’s understanding and learning. This enables visualization of key concepts and summarizes relationships among them.

• Feedback on learning**.** Concept map usage assists teachers in evaluating student’s learning of a topic. They can assess student achievement by identifying misconceptions and missing concepts. They can then provide feedback to students on those areas.

• Evaluation. You can test student understanding achievement by having them draw concept maps.

One of the ways in which concept maps aids teachers and students is by allowing them to build and share concept maps in a collaborative effort. The CMapTools software (explained in a coming chapter) has features that allow much collaboration on concept maps, even over long distances.

Keep limitations in mind#

Concept maps are a potent tool for learning, but remember they’re only one tool of many that you can use! For example, use other materials in the Memletic curriculum (the Accelerated Learning Manual and Speed Reading Course) to help you learn effectively. Each of the modules within Memletics integrates with other modules to provide you with an effective learning program.