What Is a Conceptual Diagram?

A concept map is a graphical method that uses nodes to represent concepts and wires to represent the relationships between concepts. The theoretical basis of the concept map is Ausubel's learning theory. The construction of knowledge begins with the observation and recognition of things through existing concepts. Learning is to build a conceptual network and constantly add new content to the network. In order for learning to be meaningful, individual learners must associate new knowledge with learned concepts. Ausubel's early organizers advocated using a large picture to present the most general concepts first, and then gradually show details and specific things.

Chinese name: Concept map

Foreign name: concept map
Applied discipline: psychology

Concept map development

Joseph D. Novak, at Cornell University in 1970,

Concept map introduction University) proposed the concept map drawing skills. At the time, Novak applied this technique to science teaching as a conceptual map of instructional technology to enhance understanding based on the education psychology of Ozubal. Meaningful learning is one of the most important concepts in Osupor's educational psychology. Osupor makes an important distinction between mechanical learning and meaningful learning. He believes that meaningful learning requires three conditions. Advantage.

Concept map structure

A "concept map" is a network of knowledge and relationships between knowledge

Concept map structure Network graphical representation is also a visual representation of thinking. A concept map generally consists of "nodes", "links" and "relevant text annotations".

1. Node: A concept is represented by geometric figures, patterns, text, etc., and each node represents a concept. Generally, concepts at the same level are identified by the same kind of symbols (graphics).

2. Link: It means the meaningful relationship between different nodes. Various forms of lines are often used to link different nodes, which expresses the degree of understanding of the concept by the composition.

3. Text labeling: It can be the relationship between the concepts on different nodes, it can also be the elaboration of the concepts on the nodes, and it can also be the related description of the whole picture. ^[1]

Concept map features

(1) Hierarchical structure

Represent the relationship between concepts in a hierarchical way. The broadest and most general concepts are at the top, and more detailed and less general concepts are listed below in order. The concept hierarchy of a specific domain is also dependent on the context in which the knowledge is applied. Therefore, it is best to construct a concept map to refer to the specific question we are trying to answer, or to the thing or situation we want to understand through the concept map.

(2) Cross connection

Use cross-connects to represent relationships between concepts. Cross-linking shows how some domain knowledge on the concept map is interconnected. In the creation of new knowledge, cross-connections indicate the leapfrogging of knowledge creation.

(3) Reason and emotion blend

Although the concept map represents concepts and propositions, it also reflects the emotional state of the creator in the process of creating the concept map. The concept map has both the characteristics of rationality and clarity, and it also reflects the emotional quality of the creator.

Concept map application

Concept maps are widely used in education and business for brain-storming and conveying complex concepts.

Concept maps are thought to help creative ideas. For example, concept mapping is sometimes used as a brainstorming tool. Although concept maps are often very personal and unique, they can also be used for complex concepts

Communication at work.

Formal concept maps are also used in software design work. Usually, such a conceptual diagram uses Unified Modeling Language (UML) as the recording system in the development method.

Concept map application In the research of artificial intelligence and semantic network, concept map drawing is also regarded as a preliminary "ontology-building" to represent formal arguments.

Concept maps are widely used in education and business:

Conceptual graph knowledge representation

Create new knowledge content. For example, transforming tacit knowledge into organized knowledge resources

Institutional knowledge preservation. For example, elicit employee expertise

· Take notes and summarize key concepts, relationships and hierarchies in literature and related sources

Concept map knowledge organization

Check the symmetry of complex concepts and topics, and the connection of terms.

· Enhance metacognition

Concept map organization communication

· Communicate complex concepts and topics

· Collaborative knowledge modeling

Promote vision sharing and mutual understanding between organizations

Concept map application

Concept map education

Promote meaningful learning

· Assess learners' understanding of learning motivations, concepts and relationships between concepts

· Instructional design: used by the Ausubelian school as an advanced organizational tool to provide follow-up information and an initial conceptual framework for learning

· Training: used by the Ausubelian school as an advanced organizational tool to present work situations and the relationship between situations and their work, the strategic goals of the organization, and the training goals

Concept map construction

1. Must list concepts

2. Put the concept with the broadest meaning and the most inclusiveness at the top of the diagram. However, sometimes it is difficult to determine the broadest and most inclusive concepts.

3. Continue to write down to add more specific concepts. But don't have more than three connected concepts under one concept. Connect the concepts with lines and use the connectives to indicate the connection. The connectives should be able to explain the relationship between the two concepts. Such a description can be regarded as a statement or a proposition. Connections make sense between concepts.

4. Find the connection of the cross lines between different parts of the concept map, and mark the connection lines.

5. Write specific examples explaining the concept next to the concept.

Concept map evaluation criteria

Proposition: Establish a meaningful connection between concepts;

Level: The concept of the highest level is broken down into several effective levels, from the most general to the most specific;

Branching: Decompose the most general concept or the next level concept from the highest level concept;

Cross-linking: the connection and integration between the next level concepts in different branches is effective, meaningful and important;

Example: the concept that best distinguishes the next level;

Degree of conceptualization: The degree to which the highest-level concepts and the secondary concepts connected to them are understood. ^[2]

Concept map making system

The US National Center for Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) at the University of California uses online knowledge concept maps and scoring systems to study students' conceptual understanding and development processes.

The concept map production system is written in Java. The concepts to be examined are listed in the menu. Students only need to click on the concept terms with the mouse to add the concepts to the map. Then select the connective to be used from another menu to form a proposition. For example, the concepts of physiology include the body, brain, respiratory system, circulatory system, blood, etc. The connectives are absorption, control, secretion, composition, manufacturing, and so on. Researchers and teachers have implemented a set of concepts and connectives. The concepts in the menu are only allowed for students to use once, and the connectives between concepts in the menu can be used by students according to their needs.

Novak's concept map model. The concept map includes six parts: concept, branch, horizontal level, connection lines and connectives between concepts in the same branch, connection lines and connectives between concepts in different branches (also called horizontal connection), example.

Concepts refer to the concepts contained in a certain domain of knowledge. The key concepts are the subject of the concept map, which is the most basic concept and placed at the very top of the concept map. Branches are lines connected to key concepts and are called branches. A branch refers to the classification of concepts in a certain field of knowledge. The concepts under each branch represent the same type of concepts. The classification standard is based on the internal relationship between concepts in subject knowledge. Each type of concept belongs to a branch. The horizontal level refers to each The concepts in the branches are arranged according to the concept's extension, and the concept levels are arranged up and down in order. The concepts with a higher tolerance are placed on the upper layer and the concepts with a lower tolerance are placed on the lower layer. The concepts are arranged in different levels; the connecting lines and connecting words between concepts in the same branch refer to the concepts belonging to the same branch. According to the internal connection in subject knowledge, draw a connection between two concepts with internal connection. Line, write the connecting words; connecting lines and connecting words (also called horizontal connections) between concepts in different branches refer to the connection between concepts in different branches, such connecting lines and connecting words should be able to reflect the two branches A comprehensive connection between concepts in an example; an example refers to a special case of a concept or an application example of a concept.

Concept map comparison

Concept maps and mind maps are similar idea mapping tools, but there are still differences. Mind maps are usually limited to depicting hierarchical (tree-like) architecture relationships, while concept maps highlight conceptual nodes and relationship lines (a true graph structure).

There is research evidence that knowledge is based on propositions in the brain and is stored hierarchically. Because the purpose of the concept map is to reflect the organization of knowledge elements, the concept map can help sense-making and meaningful learning. ^[3]

Another difference between concept maps and mental maps is the difference in speed and spontaneity when they are drawn. The mind map reflects what you think. The concept map is considered to be a realistic (abstract) conceptual map or system.