Mapping Concepts for Learning

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Department

Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education

School

Education

Abstract

Graphic organizers such as concept mapping help instructors and students organize information visually. For instructors, concept maps help in the planning and presentation of course material through visual means to demonstrate how ideas, concepts, and topics are related. Concept maps can also offer students an alternative way to structure content, comprehend the relationships between topics, and present their understanding to others. This pilot case study demonstrates how an instructor of a graduate course uses concept maps to structure textbook material. Instead of using text notes and traditional outlines to highlight certain information in the textbook, the instructor uses concept maps to present the information visually. Student responses concerning the use of concept maps are also addressed in the case study. As a result, the instructor discovered that although concept maps were much more difficult to design initially, graduate students appeared to enjoy the option of reviewing a visual organizer of the key points in the textbook chapters than reading text-based notes. Concept maps accommodated the various learning styles of the students and helped the instructor organize course content.

Publication Title

Essentials of Teaching and Integrating Visual and Media Literacy: Visualizing Learning

First Page

203

Last Page

215

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