Concept maps

href="http://cmap.ihmc.us/docs/theory-of-concept-maps" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Concept maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge. They include concepts, usually enclosed in circles or boxes of some type, and relationships between concepts indicated by a connecting line linking two concepts.

• A visual framework connecting a large number of ideas, objects, and events as they relate to a certain domain
• This provides the scaffolding that can help visualize the complexities of a system to make new meaning.
• Concept maps consist of individual concepts (a well-understood idea, object, or event; usually nouns connected by linking words (usually verbs).
• Linking words that connect two or more concepts form a proposition that creates a meaningful statement.
• Articulating the correct focus question is a key step that will provide context and structure to the map.
• After a focus question is generated, a list of fifteen to twenty-five concepts should be identified and ranked from general to very specific.
• A preliminary map is constructed and then revised until a final map emerges to adequately answer the focus questions.
• Maps should help design teams gain new knowledge and find new meanings in an information space.