Concept%20Maps

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Concept Maps
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Concept Maps

• Theoretical foundation
• What are they?
• Some examples
• Possible roles
• Downside
• Software Tools

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Theory of Meaningful Learning

• If I had to reduce all of educational psychology
  to just one principle, I would say this The most
  important single factor influencing learning is
  what the learner already knows. Ascertain this
  and teach him accordingly"
• David Ausubel

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Meaningful Learning

• Primarily addresses the acquisition and use of
  knowledge
• Meaningful learning is controlled by the learner
• New information is related to information already
  known by the learner
• New information is assimilated into existing
  knowledge frameworks

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Three Components of Meaningful Learning

• learner's relevant prior knowledge
• meaningful material
• learner choice to use meaningful learning
• Meaningful learning is distinguished from rote
  learning in that rote learning often omits
  underlying reasons for rules, practices, and
  procedures

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What are Concept Maps?

• Invented by Joe Novak who was influenced by
  Ausubel
• Concept maps include
• Concepts (usually enclosed in circles or boxes)
• Relationships between concepts (connecting line
  linking word)
• Hierarchical structure most general at top,
  more specific at bottom
• Depends on context in which knowledge is being
  applied/considered
• Cross-links between concepts in different domains
  of the map
• Specific examples

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Varied Purposes

• to generate ideas (brain storming, etc.)
• to design a complex structure (long texts,
  hypermedia, large web sites, etc.)
• to communicate complex ideas
• to aid learning by explicitly integrating new and
  old knowledge
• to assess understanding or diagnose
  misunderstanding.

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Constructing Good Maps

• Identify a particular problem or question or
  laboratory activity (domain) that is to be
  understood. (creates context to help determine
  hierarchical structure)
• Identify key concepts that apply to the domain
• Rank concepts from most general to most specific
  (this is a loose, approximate ranking)

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Software

• Cmap
• Inspiration

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Why do we have seasons?
What is a plant?

• Sun
• 23.5 Degrees Tilt
• Amount of Sunlight
• Summer
• Slight Variation in Distance
• Winter
• Position in Orbit
• Negligible Effect
• Seasonal Temperature Variations
• Height of Sun Above Horizon
• Length of Day

• Plants
• Petals
• Color
• Green
• Flowers
• Roots
• Stems
• Leaves
• Seeds
• Food

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