There are numerous benefits for students by using concept maps as a graphic organiser to organise their thinking. These are as follows:
- Easy way to record numerous ideas and information about one given topic.
- Supports visual learners - see what the information looks like in a concept map.
- Concept maps can be altered to suit the child creating the map itself.
- Graphic organiser that helps students think about what they are meant to be thinking about.
I believe that concept maps would be a very successful and effective tool to use in the classroom of an early phase context - or any context for that matter. Young children would be able to work individually or collaboratively on one concept map using bubbl.us which allows alot of movement, zoom in and out, change the colours, text type etc.
Concept maps allow for self expression and self manipulation - also leaning towards student- centered learning as a very effective way to learn. Concept maps also draw on Gardner's multiple intelligences as students' are able to think, reflect and alter their concept map as many times as they like and conduct activities such as deep thinking, reflective learning etc.
Take a look at my concept map that I created using bubbl.us to show how frameworks and theories relate to concept maps and their uses.
I will be using concept maps in my classroom as they are effective, simple and engaging as well as supporting student- centered learning and collaborative and individual reflection.
I agree with you Kirsti in saying that concept maps allow you to record numerous amounts of information in a quick amount of time. I feel a very useful reason for using Concept Maps, is that you can focus on a very specifc part of a topic or a very broad part of a topic depending on how hard you want the students to work. For example, students building a wooden table in wood work, could first complete a concept map thinking of all the types of wood that could be used. After this has been decided, another map can be created thinking of what kind of legs to put on the table. Concept maps are fantastic for the beginning of a task, the middle and at the end. It allows students to engage in higher order thinking and analysis, an important stage required to transfer knowledge, according to Bloom's Taxonomy (Dalton & Smith, 1986).
ReplyDeleteYou have not mentioned the use of ICTs while creating concept maps. There are online programs now allowing students to create interactive and colourful maps which can be altered easily and saved for later use! Such programs include Bubbl.us. This website engages data through alternative senses, which relates to Habits of Mind (Marzano & Pickering, 1997).
Yes, I agree with you also and I have written another post discussing the use of bubbl.us and ICTs. In this post I was just discussing more about the use of concept maps - meaning the use of ICTs and the programs that are available to use this organiser with. I love how they engage students in higher order thinking and analysis, training them to transfer knowledge in an easy to follow set up.
ReplyDeletegood could you hel
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