WHAT IS A CONCEPT MAP?
C
oncept maps are tools for organizing and representing knowledge. They include
concepts, usually enclosed in circles or boxes of some type, and relationships between
concepts or propositions, indicated by a connecting line between two concepts.
The concepts are represented in a hierarchical fashion with the most inclusive, most
general concepts at the top of the map and the more specific, less general concepts
arranged hierarchically below
The following is a concept map for the concept for a TRIANGLE. Before we start
constructing the map, we need to identify the concept related to A TRIANGLE. These are
the items chosen for this map
•
•
•
•
Triangle
Area
Right
(1/2)
(base*height)
• Sides
• Angles
• Obtuse
• Polygons
• Isosceles
• Acute
• Vertices
• Equilateral
• Hypotenuse
• Perimeter
• Scalene
• Pythagorean Theorem
The concepts are linked by propositions or propositional phrases. In the next graph you
see a concept map for a TRIANGLE.
These are the items to consider when creating a concept map:
1. The order of the items is inclusive.
a. Hierarchical organization.
b. Examples go at the end
c. Concepts do not repeat.
d. Items are linked by Propositional phrases
2. Selection:
a. The concept map is a summary that contains the most important parts of a
message
b. Prior to start building a concept map we have to choose the items on
which we want to center our attention
3. Visual impact. The concept map is concise, and shows relationship in a simple
way.
4. Concept maps are not the same for different people.
EXERCISE:
Create the concept map for the concept FUNCTION using the terms below. Feel free to
include more items, or examples if you consider they are important for your own
understanding of the main concept.
•
Data
•
Graph
•
Formula
•
Intercepts with axes
•
Intercepts between functions
•
Domain
•
Range
•
F(p)
•
F(0)
•
F(x)=0
• F(x)=G(x)
•
•
Output
•
Discrete
• Continuous
•
Input
EXERCISE:
You will construct a concept map several times in this class. These are some of the
topics. Dates will be announced.
1. Rational Functions.
2. SEQUENCES.
3. Derivative at a point.
4. Continuous functions
5. Integration