Active Learning with Concept Maps Workshop

On Friday, October 24, we held a Concept Map Workshop for faculty and grad students. In this workshop we discussed what concept maps were, and how to use them in our classrooms. Some of the key takeaways were that concept maps can be used in a variety of ways, should be continually revised and updated, and that technology is great, but white boards and post-it notes can work just as well depending on your objectives.  We modeled some different tactics for concept maps, including:

• Using them as a discussion starter by having students silently build one based on the homework reading before talking about it in class.
• Continually going back to the class concept map and asking students if they need to revise or add more content to the concept map to build their knowledge
• Using Peer reviews to help students see what connections they might have missed, and build a a more thorough study guide
• Integrating a module within Blackboard that has tutorials and technology information to help students become comfortable with concept maps before doing graded assignments.

We also considered how to use concept maps for a graphical syllabus and best practices for assessing them. Finally, we used the web app, Yogile, to collect photos of our whiteboard concept maps and review them as a group.

Below, are some of the resources from the workshop:

• Concept Map examples and Handouts
• PowerPoint file
• Resource Links:
• •Kathy Schrock’s Guide (Website): http://www.schrockguide.net/concept-mapping.html
  •Cmap Website: http://learn.cmappers.net/
  •Novak, Joseph D., The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct and Use Them http://cmap.ihmc.us/publications/researchpapers/theorycmaps/theoryunderlyingconceptmaps.htm
  •Concept Maps Help Build Connections to Learning: http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/concept-maps-help-build-connections-to-learning/
  •Web-based Concept Mapping Tools for Learning: http://icoblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/concept-mapping-tools/
  •Classroom Assessment Technique: http://youtu.be/Gm1owf0uGFM
  •Technology Training for Cmap,VUE and Mindmeister http://youtu.be/P0DBS-YbRc0
  •Overview video: http://youtu.be/A625Yh6v6uQ?list=PLM-ncRMc-HjKZTIY7efD6p58dPTv7csDX

Additionally, if you would like some more information on any of these ideas, or explore concept mapping further, please email amy.pate@asu.edu