Concept Maps??

Concept Maps? What are they? Are they effective?

Concept maps are a great source of information of a subject through a diagram and are a practial way of developing effective brainstorming techniques within learners. The Concept begins with one key word in the middle of the diagram, which then the learners must brainstorm ideas which link to that key word. Those ideas must have a relationship to the key word and link with one another. Learners can also add links to the outside ideas if they are able to come up with any possible answers.

Example of a concept Map: Key Word (Fitness) idea Links: Cardiovascular, Muscular Endurance / Strength, Running, Walking, General Sport and so on. As you can see the key word is fitness- which our ideas are types of fitness applications hence linking those applications with the key word. Learners can also add links to the oringal ideas such as cardiovascular- example: running / walking / swimming which are all types of cardiovascular training to grow the concept map further and to which enhances the learners knowledge, logical thinking and brainstorming ability.

The concept map is a great brainstorming activity and is a way of representing relations between ideas or words. With each word or idea connected to one another and linked back to the original component. Through this concept the learners develop logical thinking and study skills, by revealing connections how individual ideas form a larger picture of that topic, with the concept map being an effective way to help learners grasp the content, enhance there knowledge and study skills.