ipcc2010-1

Concept-Map Oriented Technical Writing Approach for Comp. Sc Majors in an EFL Context: Understanding Text Applications

Debopriyo RoyUniv. of Aizu, Japan

IPCC 2010 - Enschede, Netherlands

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Friday, July 2, 2010

What is a Concept Map?

• Concept maps are a graphical two-dimensional display of concepts, connected by directed arcs encoding brief relationships between pairs of concepts forming propositions. It is a form of graphic organizer.

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Concept Maps in Computer Science

•

Concept maps in CS often emphasize modeling of concepts and procedures for documentation purposes.

Modeling concept and procedures with concept maps for procedures (declarative, structural, functional, logical, conditional connections)

Brainstorming: Where known concepts and relationships are suggested by individuals for conforming a meaningful workgroup knowledge structure.

Decision making: Where current variables are identified on existent knowledge structures, leading to logical inferences that, ultimately, will help for decision making.

Information navigation: Where concept maps are used as hypermedia organizers. In this case, information can be encapsulated on different levels of abstraction for easy comprehension, while allowing expansion to reveal details when required.

Presentation planning: Where concept maps are used as tools for outlining presentations' content in a non-linear manner. This technique allows a quick interpretation of related material and their relationship with the subject of the presentation.

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Variety of Concept Maps

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Major Research Question

• Conceptual: Whether students can comprehend the concept behind the specific CM types?

• Application in Documents: Whether students can understand the possible application of the CM types in various documents?

• Application with Technical Sentences: Whether readers can identify technical sentences and headings, and major questions that can be represented as CM?

• Practice Effect: Whether student performance improves as they move on from one CM to another.

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Survey Design• This study tested 22 participants in the age group of 20-23 from a technical thesis writing

class.

• Sections of the survey: The survey had 4 major sections. Before the questions are asked, students see a visual representation of the ladder types and an explanation as to how it is to be used for information schematization and visualization.

Concept Map Type

Task-specificTask-specific Task+DocumentTask+Document Technical SentencesTechnical SentencesOption TypeConcept Map

Type Accuracy- 5 Options Confidence Accuracy

- 5 Options Confidence Accuracy - 5 Options Confidence

Option Type

Concept22 22 33 Correct

Concept33 33 22 More Correct

Composition

Decision

Attribute

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Test Instruments

• Task specific: As part of the task-specific sentences, readers were given an overall idea of what the task is, for e.g., to explain definitions in your thesis. The students are provided with options like “different chapters and types of information in the thesis”, “explaining structures and functions of computer, digital camera, different ways to assemble” etc.

• Task + Document: As part of this task, the focus was both on the specific task and the type of document where it is to be shown. For example, options used were “pages in user manual, laboratory reports showing definitions, structures, functions, procedures”, “recommendations made in reports”, “reporting degree of anxiety, stress in specific types of documents” etc.

• Domain-specific Sentences: The students were provided with examples of sentences that strictly deal with processes in the area of Computer Science or general science and in few cases, more general sentences. Ex: The iPod retrieves the file or the playlist.

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Results - 1

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Results -2

• Re

1. Report defining different important terms2. Report describing the functionalities of a printer3. Report describing the amount of stress under different conditions4. Report categorizing the degree of expense with buying a car5. Report describing the levels of anxiety

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Results - 3

1. Explaining functions of a computer2. Explaining how to write a technical paper3. Explaining parts of a computer4. Explaining the structure of a digital camera5. Explaining functions of a digital camera

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Results-4

1. To explain procedures in your thesis2. To explain definitions in your thesis3. Word choice in the abstract of your thesis4. Ways to write the introduction section in your thesis5. To make a choice about the type of approach in organizing the thesis

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Results -5

1. Report defining different important terms2. Report describing the functionalities of a printer3. Report describing the different parts of a computer4. Report describing the nature of problem when assembling a toy car5. Report describing degree of inconvenience when submitting an online form

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Result-6

Correlation between self-reports of readers’ ability to understand specific ladder types and their actual ability to understand the nature of applications with those specific ladder types

Pearson Correlation = -.321Sig. (2-tailed) = .679

N = 16

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Results - 7

Task Example with More Correct Options: (4 similar options for each category)Concept Map: To explain procedures in a technical article.Composition Map: To explain the structure of a computerDecision Ladder: Describing the different ways to assemble a computer. Attribute Ladder: Describing the relative costs involved in buying the same computer from different stores.

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Results -8

Task+Document Example with More Correct Option: (5 similar options for each category)Concept Map: Pages in User Manual that explains definitions of componentsComposition Map: Pages in user manual that writes about the different parts of a computerDecision Ladder: Recommendation Report explaining cost-benefit analysis for choosing laser printers for computer lab. Attribute Ladder: A White Paper describing the degree of force needed to drive a machine.

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Results-9

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Results-10

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Few Recommendations• Explain the scope of a document or a document section, when introducing the ways a specific CM type can

be used. (declarative, procedural, conditional etc)

• Teachers in a technical writing course should clearly identify the structural, functional, logical and conditional use of the CM types.

• Ask students to read genre-specific text in different kinds of documents and let them dissect the text in terms of various CM types in open-ended vs. guided ways.

• Assignments might be divided into production, reception and reflection orientations.

• - Production = Designing a user manual and use CM for brainstorming and information representation.

• - Reception = Analyzing an existing user manual using concept map types

• - Reflection = Explain how readers process text and graphical information, how they conceptually categorize/relate and structure information components.

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Future Work - 1Text Type Task + Document Task-specific Domain-specific

Application Reference

Declarative

Structural

Functional

Logical

Conditional

Implied Reference

Obvious Reference

Declarative

Structural

Functional

Logical

Conditional

Implied Reference

Obvious Reference

Declarative

Structural

Functional

Logical

Conditional

Implied Reference

Obvious Reference

Declarative

Structural

Functional

Logical

Conditional

Implied Reference

Obvious Reference

Declarative

Structural

Functional

Logical

Conditional

Implied Reference

Obvious Reference

1st Stage: Participants will be asked to read single paragraphs with all 3 types of text-genre specific applications combined (task + task/doc + domain-specific) with all 5 text types (declarative + structural....). Then extract and represent the information with specific types of concept maps (concept, composition, decision, procedural, attribute). (Total analysis score)

2nd Stage: Participants will be asked to separately identify each application (structural, logical etc) with implied and obvious reference in text. (Each factor analysis)

3rd Stage: Multiple regression and factor analysis will be conducted to identify factor loadings.

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Future Work - 2

• 1. Brainstorming

• 1.a. Adding a new branch

• 1.b. Changing the order and level of nodes

• 1.c. Notes

• 1.d. Attachments

• 1.e. Relating one branch to another

• 1.f. Free text or images in map

• 2. Changing the layout of a map

• 3. Outline View

• 4. Importing and exporting map

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Mind Genius - Examples for Web Layout & Organizational Chart


Future Work - 3

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Text-Genre Structural Functional Declarative Conditional

Task-specific

Text+Document

Genre-specific

IHMC / Tinderbox / Idea TreeIHMC / Tinderbox / Idea TreeIHMC / Tinderbox / Idea TreeIHMC / Tinderbox / Idea Tree

Adding a new branch Changing Nodes Inserting Notes / Attachments

Relating one branch to another


Future Work 4 - Finance and CM

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REPRESENT THE FOLLOWING IN CONCEPT MAPS

1. Text clues provided in the graphic

2. Write two possible outcomes showing relation between price and real GDP

3. Explain the declarative relations - definitions of the curves

4. Explain the structural relations - how price is related to Real GDP, How price is represented vis-a-vis LRAS, How price is represented vis-a-vis SRAS etc.

5. Explain the functional relations - how average demand changes, how average supply changes with change in external conditions, etc.

6. Explain the logical relations - factors that causes a change in SRAS, AD curves, reasons for inward and outward shift, external conditions that prompt a shift, why LRAS is horizontal?

7. Explain the conditional relations - Explain in a concept map as to how an increase in investment might lead to inflationary expansion. Show the logic with nodes and connections.

8. Explain the sequential relation - Represent the sequence of events in a concept map, starting from what happens once there is an increase in investment.


Thank You !

23Friday, July 2, 2010

ipcc2010-1

Education

modeling concept

variety of concept maps

computer science concept

specic task

taskspecic sentences

types of information

different ways

different parts