Concept Mapping
Tutorial
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
individual’s knowledge.
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.
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.
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.
Hierarchical structure
Non-hierarchical structure
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 postit note.
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).
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.
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.
Concept Map Notation
• Unidirectional relationship
Concept
Linking verb
• Bidirectional relationship
Concept
Reflect on Your Map
Think about your concept map.
Do the propositions you’ve 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.
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.
How to Enable Arrowheads
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.