Learn how to make a concept map in this comprehensive guide. Follow the simple steps to create a visual representation of ideas and concepts.Concept maps are a valuable tool for organizing thoughts, ideas, and information in a visual way. They can be used in various settings, such as education, business, and personal development. In this article, we will explore the steps to create an effective concept map that can help you clarify your thoughts and enhance your understanding of a complex topic.
How to Make an Effective Concept Map: How to Create a Paper or Digital Map on Your Computer with Helpful Software and Tools. Tips for Your Study
Concept maps are a very useful tool for all students of all levels of school. There is a reason: not only does an effective concept map help you study faster, but it also helps you better assimilate the complex concepts outlined within it. If created using the right technique, maps can also help you in intense study situations, such as final exams , oral exams, homework, and university exams. Here are some tips for creating concept maps with the right software.
1. WHAT IS A CONCEPT MAP?
If you have trouble memorizing what you study, concept maps could be a valid ally for you . These are truly useful study tools that allow you – in a very simple and practical way – to outline the topics you need to study and, consequently, to remember them better.
Their effectiveness is guaranteed by the studies of numerous psychologists and by the individual experience of thousands of students: being able to graphically outline very vast topics is truly a godsend for memory. Just as the territory can be represented through geographical maps, even the thoughts and concepts we memorize can be depicted in a simple map… a concept map, precisely!
In short: concept maps can really be a lifeline when studying for tests , homework or university exams, because they can help you better imprint the notions in your mind. Not only that: they can also be very useful for preparing a multidisciplinary essay for the final exam .
2. CONCEPT MAPS: HOW TO USE THEM
Concept maps can be useful to you in each of the different phases of your school career: whether you are a middle school or high school student, but also if you are enrolled in university. In fact, they will allow you to:
- Memorize quickly
- Easily store information in your head
- “Record”in an almost indelible way the concepts you study, so much so that even years later you will be able to easily remember what you had memorized a long time ago.
There are two ways to take advantage of these valuable allies in studying: you can download ready-made concept maps (here, on Studenti.it, there is a wide selection ) or create one yourself, starting from scratch. If you have some time available, we can only recommend the second option: since you are the one who organizes and outlines your study material in a concept map , you will be able to have a much clearer idea of the topic you need to study and to imprint it indelibly in your memory. This means that you will have an extra edge not only in the study phase, but also in the revision phase : all you need to do is take a look at the concept map that you have built yourself to have an overview of all the concepts related to each other.
- HOW TO CREATE CONCEPT MAPS
Creating valid concept maps is just a matter of practice: initially you will find the process slightly difficult (it happens to anyone who is not used to summarizing and schematizing what they study), but little by little the road will appear to be downhill. The benefits, however, will be immediately noticeable : even if your first concept map is not perfect, you will see that the topic covered will be imprinted in your mind in a way that you did not think possible.
Where to start to create a concept map? The first thing you will have to do is (obviously!) choose the topic you want to schematize . You can write the title nice and large in the center of your sheet and, with the help of arrows and branches, divide it into concepts of lower levels, that is, less important, which will be connected to it by logical connections.
It is important for you to know that, in general, each concept map can be made up of two different elements:
- Conceptual nodes : these are the key words or concepts of the topic you are studying. Graphically, they are inscribed within a geometric figure.
- Associative relations : these are the arrows that connect the different conceptual nodes and represent the logical connections that are established between the concepts. They can be accompanied by a short label that has the task of clarifying what type of relationship exists between the different conceptual nodes.
- TIPS FOR MAKING A CONCEPT MAP
A concept map is, as we have seen, a graphical schematization of a much larger topic that we want to impress on our mind. First of all, there are some “constraints” to respect: the first is undoubtedly that the map is synthetic . It must therefore report key concepts, and not the summary of the entire mass of study. Therefore, worry about identifying the most important elements that you believe it is necessary to insert in your concept map, which must constitute a sort of photograph of your mind. Underline the key words and concepts from the book: these will be the ones that you will have to use within your scheme.
It might be useful to write a legend on a sheet of paper , a sort of handbook containing all the criteria you want to use for your concept maps: the level of importance of the concepts according to the geometric figure in which they are contained, the meaning of the different colors used. We recommend that you always use the same criterion so that, when you have a concept map created some time ago in your hands again, you don’t have to waste time trying to understand the parameters used.
To help you better understand how a concept map is structured, we thought it might be useful for you to see one. Here is an example that has the First World War as its theme (click here )
- SOFTWARE FOR CREATING CONCEPTUAL MAPS
We know that creating a concept map by hand every time could be boring. Consider yourself lucky: we live in the internet age and the web can offer you a universe of study aids. Yes, it can also give you a hand in creating concept maps ! In fact, there are several free programs and sites that will allow you to create splendid concept maps directly from your computer, or, even better, create a concept map online.
But with which program to make the conceptual map? In truth, there is not a single answer: here are some examples.
But with which program to make the conceptual map? In truth, there is not a single answer: here are some examples.
- Mindomo : This is a very useful site not only for creating concept maps, but also for sharing them with classmates and colleagues. In addition, the site provides users with a huge database of already created maps, which you can draw from if you don’t feel like creating a map from scratch.
- MindMeister : is a site that provides users with pre-set conceptual map templates, which can always be useful. Obviously, you can also create a conceptual map from scratch: this is what we at Studenti.it do for our text analysis schemes ( here is an example ). In this case, too, you can share your work with friends and colleagues.
- WiseMapping : the share function is also present here. What characterizes WiseMapping is the possibility of inviting other people to contribute to the creation of the map. It can always be useful, right?
- Cmap Tools : created by the University of Florida, this is a very simple and intuitive program to use to create valid concept maps. It can be downloaded on your computer and even on your iPad!
- XMind : this is another very good site, whose basic version can be downloaded for free, to create high quality concept maps!
A concept map is used to clarify the connections between the various parts of an argument. A well-made map easily and effectively outlines all the points to keep in mind, and creates a visual path between the parts of the speech.