concept maps: types, uses, software

19.06.2008

Concept maps: types, use, software

Nadia Spang Bovey, Faculté des Lettres - RISET

19.06.2008


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1. Introduction: information visualization

2. Why represent knowledge?

3. Building the concept map: basics (25 min.)

4. Practicalities: identifying a suitable software (20 min.)

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1 – Information visualization

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Types of visual representations

• Data

• Information

• Concepts, ideas

• Strategy

• Metaphor

• Compound

PROCESS

STRUCTURE

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Types of maps

• Overview : Ref: www.visual-literacy.org • Project USI/St-Gallen/Geneva/Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz

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Vocabulary…

Concept map

Knowledge map

Semantic network

Domain map

Causation map

Mindmap

Decision tree

Argument map

System map

Flow chart

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2 – Why represent knowledge?

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Use in teaching and research

• Identifying relationships between concept makes learning meaningful

• Facilitates understanding, retention and recall

• Knowledge and reasoning are better structured

• Knowledge is processed and actively revised

• Provides cognitive amplification by filtering

• Allows for reflexive thinking, self-dialogue and creative associations

• Stimulates the exploration/resolution of cognitive conflicts

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Contexts of use

Delivered by teacher- presentation

- summary- organisation

- …

Constructed by student(s)- taking notes

- comparison with peers- organisation

- revising- …

For one’s own work- identifying ideas and processes- summary of previous knowledge- organisation of documentation

- sharing and collaborating- …

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Are you regularlydrawing concept maps ?

What for ? Will someone give an example ?

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3 - Building the concept map

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Choice I: Segmentation

LINK

(nature of relationship)can be color coded

is called a proposition

A concept map = a series of propositions

NODE(concept)

(idea) = word (s)

can be color or form coded

NODE(concept)

(idea)= word (s)

can be color or form coded

this

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Choice II - Coding

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http://savonlinnakampus.joensuu.fi/ahlberg/index.htm

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Choice III: Hierarchy

Tree form(central concept, clusters)

Free form(network, system)

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How to make concept mapping a fruitful exercise

• Students need to produce maps; the more they do it, the better they’ll understand the process.

• Begin with a simple topic, using a small number of concepts.

• Work through example(s) with the group, modifying the map where necessary.

• Emphasize the importance of thinking about all possible links.

• Emphasize the importance of writing down the nature of the links.

• Emphasize that there is no single “correct” answer; often more than one appropriate link.

• Emphasize the importance of using arrows and their direction in describing the proposition.

From http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~johnson/misconceptions/ce/learn/concept_map.htm

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4 - Practicalities

Information Design Taxonomy - KARABEG D, GUESCINI R., “Polyscopic Topic Maps-based Flexible and Exploratory Learning, in IPSI TRANSACTIONS ON ADVANCED RESEARCH, Vol 1, No 2, FALL 2005 , p 6

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How many of youuse…

MindManager or FreeMind ?

Inspiration ?

CMapTools ?

PersonalBrain ?

Compendium ? Other software ?

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Types of software

Concept mapeditor

Mindmappingsoftware

Informationorganizer

Presentationsoftware

Diagram and concept maps

online tool

Which one ?

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Concept map editors

A concept map editor, like

• [Commercial] Inspiration (http://www.inspiration.com/ )

• [multiplatform freeware] CmapTools (http://cmap.ihmc.us/)

• Compendium (http://www.compendiuminstitute.org/)

• Vue (http://vue.uit.tufts.edu/)

• [GNU GPL-licenced] Conzilla (http://www.conzilla.org/ ) in Java

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Inspiration 8Inspiration 8

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CMapToolsCMapTools

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CompendiumCompendium

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VUEVUE

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Online tools

Online diagram and concept mapping tools, like

• Gliffy (www.gliffy.com),

• Mind42 (http://www.mind42.com/)

• Comapping (http://comapping.com/)

• Mindomo (http://www.mindomo.com/)

• ExploraTree (http://www.exploratree.org.uk/)

• FlowChart (http://www.flowchart.com/)

• MindMeister (http://www.mindmeister.com/)

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http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1044845/L

Gliffy onlineGliffy online

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Mind mapping software

• Freeware, like

FreeMind (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) Thinkgraph (http://www.thinkgraph.com) VYM - View Your Mind (http://www.insilmaril.de/vym ) or Kdissert (http://freehackers.org/~tnagy/kdissert/) [Linux only]

• Commercial software, like

Inspiration (http://www.inspiration.com/) MindManager (http://www.mindjet.com/)

MindGenius (http://www.mindgenius.com/) Visual Mind (http://www.visual-mind.com/) MindMapper (http://www.mindmapperusa.com/)

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Inspiration 8Inspiration 8

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Information organizers

• PersonalBrain (http://www.thebrain.com/)

• InfoRapid KnowledgeMap (http://www.inforapid.de/html/knowledgemapeng.htm)

• 3D TopicScape (http://www.topicscape.com/)

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PersonalBrainPersonalBrain

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Inforapid KnowledgeMapInforapid KnowledgeMap

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3D TopicScape3D TopicScape

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Presentation software

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• OpenOffice Impress

… and others, depending on your objective !

[On the next slide, an example that could not easily be achieved with the software mentioned today]

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http://www.macrovu.com/CCTGeneralInfo.html

R. E. Horn, Stanford: Mapping Great Debates

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Thank you for your attention !

Any question ?

Contact: [email protected]

concept maps: types, uses, software

Education

compendium http

freemind http

vue http

mindmanager http

mindgenius http

kdissert http

mind42 http

flowchart http