Concept mapping (aka webbing) seems to be a great visual learning tool for
students. Connecting it to this week’s Ed psyc class, it could be a quick and
easy way of incorporating visual learning in to a class setting, showing
relationships by connecting varying ideas or concepts. Working with the program
Inspiration during class made me realize that webbing or mapping could be very
effective for planning lessons or providing instruction in a different of
effective method than the norm. That it allows for instant conversion into point
or outline form is a definite bonus too! Describing ideas in pictorial form
through this graphical organization method, may be a helpful tool in presenting
information effectively, as it has been proven to increase student understanding
and even retention of the presented information. This is based on the fact that
when information is seen and comprehended in picture form (possibly including
patterning, color, separate words or phrases seen associated to an image, etc.)
it can be easier to remember for many people. It has also been linked to
building critical thinking skills.
Effective as concept mapping can be to the learning process, it can be used as an effective evaluation tool too. Students may be instructed to show their understanding of something through the creation of a web, personally deciding what ties in where, how many concepts to include, how/where they are connected, what words/descriptions to use to explain relationships, etc. The teacher would, of course, need to decide if quality or quantity of knowledge were important, depending on the activity.
students. Connecting it to this week’s Ed psyc class, it could be a quick and
easy way of incorporating visual learning in to a class setting, showing
relationships by connecting varying ideas or concepts. Working with the program
Inspiration during class made me realize that webbing or mapping could be very
effective for planning lessons or providing instruction in a different of
effective method than the norm. That it allows for instant conversion into point
or outline form is a definite bonus too! Describing ideas in pictorial form
through this graphical organization method, may be a helpful tool in presenting
information effectively, as it has been proven to increase student understanding
and even retention of the presented information. This is based on the fact that
when information is seen and comprehended in picture form (possibly including
patterning, color, separate words or phrases seen associated to an image, etc.)
it can be easier to remember for many people. It has also been linked to
building critical thinking skills.
Effective as concept mapping can be to the learning process, it can be used as an effective evaluation tool too. Students may be instructed to show their understanding of something through the creation of a web, personally deciding what ties in where, how many concepts to include, how/where they are connected, what words/descriptions to use to explain relationships, etc. The teacher would, of course, need to decide if quality or quantity of knowledge were important, depending on the activity.
