1. 2009 AADPRT Teaching with Technology: Concept Mapping
What is a Concept Map?
A concept map is a diagram created to demonstrate the relationship between concepts or facts in a knowledge model.
In the collaborative learning environment, the advantage of a concept mapping is that the collaborative learning
process is active between participants who discuss and then create the concept map in real time. In addition, learning
can occur from a distance if the concept map is hosted on server with offsite users using client software to participate in
the process.
What is the difference with mind mapping?
Mind mapping is a similar to concept mapping. Mind mapping has more constraints in that it presents ideas and
relations in a radial and non‐linear fashion, encouraging a brainstorming approach to planning and organizational tasks.
The radial hierarchies and tree structure elaborate the central concept in mind maps whereas in concept maps the
pattern is more diverse.
Concept Mapping Software
Concept mapping is done on a blank sheet of paper or computer screen. There are numerous vendors who have
created concept‐mapping software, both commercial products and freeware. The main differences are in the
capabilities in terms of links, nodes, elements, etc.
Creating a Mind Map
Creating a mind map is quite easy. The software is essentially a simple matter of clicking to create a relation box,
entering text, and then dragging to create links. The more difficult part is to distill the concept knowledge into its
component parts and relationships!
Where can I find more information?
Wikipedia – Concept Map ‐ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_map
IHMC CmapTools ‐ http://cmap.ihmc.us/conceptmap.html
Spicy Nodes – http://www.spicynodes.org
Visual Understanding Environment – http://vue.tufts.edu
Wikipedia ‐ Lists of concept mapping software ‐ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_concept_mapping_software
John Luo, UCLA Department of Psychiatry Page 1
