As visual representations of connected ideas, concept maps find a wide array of uses in higher education. Students use concept maps to put structure around a topic, generate search words for research projects, establish connections between ideas, organize main points from assigned readings, etc. For faculty, assigning concept map activities is a great way to deepen and assess student comprehension of a given topic and its component parts.
Organizing Your Concept Map
The most common organizational schema for concept maps is center-to-periphery. This means that a general concept is situated at the center and any associated ideas, questions, processes, or typologies branch out from there. Below is a great example of a center-to-periphery concept map about concept mapping (meta, I know).
CC Image: Elina Hill Concept Map. By Elina Hill, 2013, via https://elinahill.com/2013/02/25/concept-mapping/
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