Concept mapping is a technique to visualize the relations between concepts. A concept map is a diagram showing the relationships between concepts. Concepts, like "tree" or "plant", are connected with labelled arrows, for example ("is-a", "related-to" or "part of"). In contrast with Mind Mapping, which is restricted to radial hierarchies and webs (tree structures) and uses mind myths to market the product, concept maps allow any kind of connections between the concepts (true flexible graph structure) and are supported by solid scientific research. The addition of labeled and flexible links (attached during or after construction) has been found to significantly improve the level of meaningful learning and communication of the concept mapper.

Concept maps are widely used in education and business for:

• Note taking and summarizing
• brainstorming
• Increasing meaningful learning
• Communicating complex ideas and arguments
• Enhancing metacognition (learning to learn)
• Enhancing memory
• Improving language ability

Indeed, empirical research has verified the efficacy of concept maps for these tasks.

The technique of concept mapping was developed by Joseph D. Novak [1] (http://wwwcsi.unian.it/educa/curriculum/vita_jdn.html) [2] (http://www.ihmc.us/users/user.php?UserID=jnovak) at Cornell University in the 1960s. "Concept maps have their origin in the learning movement called constructivism. In particular, constructivists hold that prior knowledge is used as a framework to learn new knowledge. His work was based on the theories of David Ausubel (assimilation theory), who stressed the importance of prior knowledge in being able to learn about new concepts. Novak concluded that "Meaningful learning involves the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing cognitive structures".

Concept maps have been popularised by academics, most particularly J.Novak in his book "Learning to Learn". The diagrams are used as stimulants and organizers for idea generation in contrast with creativity. Thus they are often personalized and idiosyncratic, but they can equally be used effectively as a standalone communication method for complex ideas. The technique is a good way to take notes in a brain-storming session.

Formalized concept maps are used in software design, where a common usage is Unified Modelling Language diagramming amongst similar conventions and development methodologies.

Concept mapping can also be seen as a first step in ontology-building.

See also

• mind mapping
• Semantic network
• Semantic web
• topic map

External links

• Wiki dedicated to conceptmapping (http://wiki.conceptmapping.org/)
• Concept Mapping Homepage by Jan Lanzing (http://users.edte.utwente.nl/lanzing/cm_home.htm)
• "The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How To Construct Them" (http://cmap.coginst.uwf.edu/info/printer.html), Joseph D. Novak, Cornell University
• Italian Site on the Concept Mapping use in the school, by Marco Guastavigna (http://www.pavonerisorse.to.it/cacrt/mappe/)
• Mind Pad (http://www.mind-pad.com/), Object oriented commercial concept mapping software
• The Brain (http://www.thebrain.com/), Commercial software package for mapping concepts
• For more information see the WikEd version of Concept mapping: [3] (http://moodle.ed.uiuc.edu/wiked/index.php/Concept_mapping)
• Advance organizers (http://moodle.ed.uiuc.edu/wiked/index.php/Advance_organizers)
• CmapTools - Free concept mapping software (http://cmap.ihmc.us/)