About Concept Maps And Inspiration

Concept maps in my opinion are really neat. I think using concept maps as a visual aid can be very hepful. I always appreciated a little extra help in explaining a topic. This websit listed below is pretty cool. It explains the in s and outs of concept maps from many different standpoints. This site is also very detailed and fun. Concept maps have always been fun for me, especially when there are pictures. Vist this site if you like http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryCmaps/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.htm----posted by Darlen Dickson

There are many ways to use concept maps, depending on your teaching subject area. Here are some example concept maps.

Reading (in any subject) is a great area to use concept maps. You can use them to help teach/learn vocabulary, comprehension, assessment and so on...One website that I have found to be helpful for teaching reading skills is http://readingquest.org/strat/. This site has several examples of concept maps related to reading strategies.---posted by Jamie Baer

Concept maps are great visual aids and can be a wonderful tool in the subject area of science. Students are able to view visual representations of concepts, such as; energy, electricity, magnetism, the solar system, evolution, and many other scientifc topics. Scientific concept maps can really help students bring ideas to life and assist them in the development of science projects. Go to http://scienceideas.org/cm/ for more ideas. --- posted by Wendy Harris

I find Concept Maps exteremely useful in the subject of social studies, especially for students trying to understand the three branches of government. By doing a concept map of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, students are able to visualize these groups and understand each of their functions. A great example of a 5th grade lesson plan is http://copland.udel.edu/~karenols/et3/minilesson.htm.---posted by Kim Zachar

I really enjoyed constructing the concept map for our assignment. I think it is a great tool for visual learners. All students learn differently, so in order to accomodate all different learning styles, different types of lessons must be used. Concept maps are one of these that are not only educational, but also fun to do. Students can either create their own concept maps or learn new information from a concept map that the teacher put together. Here is a site with several different types of science concept map examples. http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~johnson/misconceptions/concept_map/concept_maps.html posted by Lynn Jennings

I think that concept maps are extremely useful for visual learners. All students should enjoy activities using concept maps because they are something that the student can put together and then look back on their work and see an accomplishment. Concept maps enable students to better understand material after it has been mapped out. I think that concept maps are particularly useful for science lessons. If I had been educated on how to use a concept map while I was in school, I think I would have been able to understand science in more detail. Check out this website. Here are some examples of creative concept maps. http://www.svsu.edu/mathsci-center/gsconcepts.htm posted by Allison Huff

I loved the Inspiration software. My fear was that the tutorial would be long, complicated, and boring. It was none of these things. It was much easier than I thought it would be and I got into it. I'm curious to see if this software is available in the computer lab where I teach. I sure would love to test drive the sample lesson plan I uploaded last week with my students.

What's ironic is last year at my school we had some sort of grant, and the teachers were forced- (and I mean we did not go easily) to do a technology-integrated lesson with our classes. Unfortunately, I think many of us- (definitely me) had no real clue as to how to go about this. Also, it was almost impossible to get time in the computer lab.

But this year the teachers are NOT REQUIRED to do a project and from what I understand the computer lab is like a ghost town. Out technology person is begging us to sign up for some time. Now, I actually am starting to get an inkling- (because of this class) as to what integrating technology in the classroom actually means AND the computer lab is AVAILABLE! Yeah! I am going to be doing lots of experimenting this year. I'm glad I'm taking this class.

Concept mapping is for older students too. Check out how nursing students are using this software.

Here's a website-- http://cord.org/txcollabnursing/onsite_conceptmap.htm

Posted by Mary Easter

measter@mempis.edu