Concept maps

What they are

A concept map is a diagram which helps you to understand a concept such as verb, gravity or
physical fitness. Here is an (incomplete) example for the concept of 'verb'.

How to make a concept map

First, write your concept at the top of the page:

Then think of something that tells you more about 'verb', e.g. what it does, the types of verb.
You add these items, linking them to the ones higher on the page with a relational phrase, such
as 'describes', 'produces', 'has' , 'for example', 'such as'. The concept map begins to look like
this:

Continue doing this until you run out of ideas.

Notice that each level down the page is more specific than the level above.
If your map gets in a muddle, that is telling you that you have a muddled idea of the concept. At
that point you need to look for a new structure to your map.

For more information, see J D Novak and DB Gowin, Learning How to Learn. (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1984). Note this is a book for teachers, but the sections on concept
mapping will give you lots of tips on how to create maps of your own.
Points in favour of concept maps

useful when you're struggling to understand a concept, eg when you are working
on your lecture notes or reading a chapter of a book.

Points against concept maps

can only record relations between concepts, therefore cannot record many kinds
of information
cannot replace other forms of notetaking.

Concept Mapping Tools

Concept mapping tools allow you or your students to visually depict a system of
relationships by creating a map in which nodes represent ideas or facts, and lines or
connectors between nodes represent relationships (for example, cause-and-effect
relationships, category and sub-category relationships, and so on).