For me, the part that really stood out for me was using concept mapping to plan for instruction (pg. 28). A teacher could create a macro concept map of what will be covered in the course. The macro concept map could then be divided into micro concept maps that would comprise of a lesson. I had always used concept mapping for review and seeing how topics fit together. The authors also suggest that concept mapping can be used as an evaluation (by itself or supplementing another assessment form like a multiple choice test).
Concept mapping can serve as an outline to students. Students are not always able to detect the major points in lessons. A concept map defines the main points and help students to see how all of the material that is being thrown at them fits together.
Funny enough, I actually took a "bee keeping" class as an elective here at Tech. It was predictably not too hard of a class, but there was an assignment where we had to make a concept map of the interactions in the hive. It provided a word bank on big concepts and left the rest to the student. Don't laugh, but that bee concept map took a very long time, but as an assignment I did take away a lot from it. So I can say first hand, as an evaluation tool, concept maps can work.
ReplyDeleteAs for planning tool, I don't honestly see myself using one. I visually don't find concept maps useful as an organizer.