Information may be organised and represented graphically through the use of concept maps. This tool allows the user to visualise concepts and the relationships between them. Concept maps facilitate meaningful learning throught the process of discovery in therms of the patterns, regularities and links among concepts. As a teaching and learning strategy, concept maps encourage brainstorming. It asks students to activate their prior knowledge as well as collaborate with their peers to creats and understand links between concepts.
As a teacher, I have used concept maps in two ways. With my lower school classes, we add to the concept map as we cover topics and concepts in a unit. This map is created on a wall with bristol board so the students are able to see the connectivity between concepts. With my upperschool classes, my students and i brainstorm at the beginning of the unit to create a concept map. The map is displayed in the classroom and students are able to read ahead as well as the the complex relationship between concepts. The use of software to produce concept maps has been exciting for me as a teachers and I can see students being motivated to do the same.
While I am always concerned about the relevance of technology to my students given the lack of technology and basic infrastructure, I believe that starting small may be possible. By this I mean one laptop connected to an overhead projector and a clean wall.
I have also used concept maps as an introduction to a unit with my students so that they can get an overview of the topics to be covered and so that they could make the visual links between concepts to be taught.
ReplyDeleteI have found that the concept map helps my students to better revise and to organize their notes. I usually draw it on the board for them to copy but maybe a chart hanging on the wall could also help to keep the unit fresh in their minds.
I have never used the maps to get them to brainstorm before reading so i want to try that. I have used the maps for students to brainstorm ideas to respond to a question i posed but i need to relinquish more control.
I think next term i will use webspiration and give them an assignment to collaborate on without my direct input. Another similar tool that i use is free mind map tool