Concept and Mind Concept and Mind Mapping: The GPS for Mapping: The GPS for

bilingual learners’ bilingual learners’ brains!brains!

Andrea Mercado Harbor Heights M349

NYSABE 2011

What does a GPS help us do?

• Take a top down view to help find a location

• Find relationships between where you are and where you want to be

• Offer a smaller, graphic representation of a large area that you may not be familiar with

• Use longitude and latitude to find coordinates

What can concept maps help language learners do?

• Locate their level of understanding of content• Help organize concepts by creating a map of their

relationships• Offer a graphic, written representation of a large

concept and its relationship to smaller components or related concepts

• Communicate content understanding without worrying about the challenge of extensive writing

Vygotsky’s view of conceptual input

• “ the ‘longitude’ of concepts will be characteristic of thought processes while ‘latitude’ will be characteristics of their objective reference. These ‘coordinates’ of a concept determine all relations of the given concept to others, i.e., to its coordinate, superordinate, and subordinate concepts.”

(Vygotsky, Thought and Language, p.199-200)

• In other words, our minds interpret abstract and concrete ideas, or conceptual knowledge, in relation to what we already know – connections to prior knowledge to build new knowledge

Meaningful Learning…

Recent Research Related to Learning with Understanding…

Prior Knowledge is a major factor in acquiring new knowledge

•Understanding involves organizing/

re-organizing knowledge around core concepts

• Learning involves(metacognition) understanding how to connect prior and new knowledgeBransford, et al, 2000

Specific Features of Concept Maps

• Concepts are represented as nouns in boxes

• Linked using verbs and verb phrases which are located on lines connecting boxes

• Lines end with arrows to denote direction of the concept relationship being represented

• Concepts that apply broadly to the entire map are connected to the top concept (super-ordinate concepts)

• Concepts that are equally important are organized along the same plane or level of hierarchy

Concept Mapping As a Graphic Organizer

usesrepresents highlights

hashasare connected to are used as

CONCEPT MAPPING(Simplified)

KNOWLEDGEBIG IDEAS(as nouns)

VERBS

ORGANIZATIONFORMSSUB-ORDINATE

IDEAS

IDEACONNECTORS

Concept Map of Concept Mapping

Concept Maps..• As a product, are graphic organizers that present the

conceptual structure of knowledge (big ideas, core concepts and relationships) in an hierarchy

• As a strategy, can organize and represent conceptual understanding

• As an assessment tool, as a dynamic interactive tool to gauge and support student learning and expository writing

General Development Guidelines…

• Guidelines should be explicit for students

• Particularly for language learners, best constructed in small groups

• Can use post-it notes, large sheets of paper, note cards or on the computer using software such as Inspiration (or Cmap Tools)

• Can be extended/amended beyond the page as new concepts are learned

• Should be modified as knowledge is expanded

• Should reflect individual’s thought process/pattern

Step-by-Step: Teacher GuidelinesFor Content (can solicit from students)

• Select a topic area, unit or mini-unit for study (or big idea and standard)

• Identify major concepts and sub concepts; place in individual box, post-it notes or card

• Concepts are represented in the form of nouns and noun phrases (e.g., states of matter) and written in boxes, on individual post-it notes or cards

• Each concept should be connected by a verb and arrow to show relationships

For Language (can solicit from students)

• Make a list of possible verbs to be used as connectors

• Make a list of possible prepositional phrases that may be used

• Make a list major concepts as nouns or noun phrases

Guidelines for Construction of Concept Maps

!Caution! Don’t try to organize concepts while simultaneously brainstorming all

the ideas you consider important Don’t worry if you have too many concepts; you can always delete some

later

?Ask

What is the general organizing concept or most subsuming concept that can serve to organize the topic? Place it on top of map

>Next

Select the next layer of major concepts that organize (or categorize) the topic into broad subtopics

Ideas for assessment…

1. As a pre-assessment for prior knowledge of content area vocabulary/concepts

2. Content-area reading comprehension

3. New concepts and relationship to previous concepts taught

4. As an organizer for an essay or speech presentation

5. As an independent study tool or for preparation for tests

6. Quick check - visual representation and review of concept relationships

Of course, you can come up with many more for your specific needs!

Assessing with Concept Maps

For Content• Give students a central

idea as starting point and let them use notes to create their own

• Provide the hierarchy and verbs and nouns/phrases placed incorrectly and they correct

For language:• Provide the hierarchy

and nouns- Ss fill in verb

• Provide the hierarchy with verbs and they fill in the nouns

So what is a Mind Map?

•A personal map of how ideas and relationships are seen by the individual student

•Think of an artistic representation of word association

• Not top down thinking process

http://www.novamind.com/images/Gallery/MindMappingBig.jpg

Unique qualities of mind maps

• Addresses learning styles and modalities

• Artistic and creative mode of communicating ideas

• Visual review of concepts

• Can be applied with technology

Creating a mind map1. Place page horizontally – get your colors ready!

2. Start with a drawing/picture and word in center of page – draw in color!

3. Begin free thinking of ideas that come to mind when you think of that word

4. Draw an extending branch for each large idea and expand the details with smaller branches;

each branch is a different color

5. Add a picture, drawing, or

symbol representing the idea

http://teamoneredcliffs.blogspot.com/2010/09/speeches.html

Tips for creating a Mind Map

• Use rich and attractive imagery – minimal text• Include a summary in the center a detailed

picture with word• Pictures and drawings for key ideas• Key words or phrases• A different color for each branch• Symbols/Emblems/precut pictures

http://mamatucci.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/mind_map_-_art_design.jpg

Calling all techies

Mind Mapping Software Websites

• http://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php (Freeware)

• http://www.inspiration.com/• http://www.novamind.com/• http://cmap.ihmc.us/• http://www.memletics.com/• http://www.imindmap.com/videos/

Resources

• Bransford, J. et al. (2000) How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

• Vygotsky, L. (1962) Thought and Language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.