We explain what a concept map is and what its characteristics are. Also, the steps to make one and examples.
What is a concept map?
A concept map is a graphical tool or diagram that facilitates the organization of knowledge. Through words and symbols that relate to each other, it presents complex concepts represented in a way that facilitates decoding.
The information contained in a conceptual map is very limited, it is only based on the main concepts or keywords of the topic to be developed. It is a kind of summary with graphic support that facilitates quick understanding and the ability to remember ideas, which is why it is also called diagram map.
See also: Synoptic table
Origin of the conceptual map
The concept map proposal It was developed in 1972 by American professor Joseph Novak.who did a lot of research on how people learned new concepts from their previous knowledge.
The conceptual map was one of several of Novak’s contributions. It turned out to be a tool that changed the way of processing new knowledge during school learning, enabling students to associate and relate multiple concepts. It was also applied in academic, professional and scientific environments.
Characteristics of the conceptual map
The characteristics of a conceptual map are:
- Details concepts and short phrases clearly.
- It uses words as connectors, like verbs that allow isolated concepts to be linked in the diagram.
- Use words, symbols and colors to quickly and clearly make multiple concepts visible.
- It encourages the connection of concepts with other ideas that are conceived in the mind.
- It allows you to communicate complex topics in a simple way, highlighting the most relevant points.
- It allows concepts to be visualized within a broader context, not just the definition of ideas.
There is no single way to make a conceptual mapIt depends on the topic to be developed, the ability to summarize and the creativity to organize the different concepts.
Before putting together a diagram It may be useful to perform focus questions to define the answers that will lead to the key concepts or words. The questions should be about important aspects and the answers should be short or with a single word.
Steps to create a concept map
To create a concept map, it is useful to follow the following steps:
- Select. It consists of summarizing all the information and rescuing only the key points that allow understanding the topic to be developed with the least amount of data possible.
- Group. It consists of organizing the information already summarized into groups that maintain some relationship or, on the contrary, that are opposite concepts.
- Order. It consists of classifying information from the most concrete and simple concepts to decode, to the most abstract and complex to understand.
- Connect. It consists of establishing links between the different organized data. They can be ideas or sentences that must then be summarized or arrows that will act as a connector between the concepts.
- Reflect. It consists of reviewing and rethinking all the previous steps and the information obtained, assuming that the diagram must be able to be decoded by someone who is unfamiliar with the subject.
Conceptual map example
References:
- “Conceptual diagrams” in ACWI.
- “Concept map” on Wikipedia.
- “Origin and destiny of the conceptual map” in Researchgate.
- “What is a concept map?” in CMAP.
- “What is a concept map?” on Lucidchart.