Concept maps for Adult Learning in Medical Education

1. Concept Maps
Adapted from the great work of Dr. Frank Fulco and Dr. Bennett Lee
Spring 2015

2. Definition
Graphical tools
for organizing
knowledge
○ Nodes
○ Links

3. What is a Concept Map?
A graphical tool for organizing and representing
knowledge
Includes concepts (boxes or circles) and the
relationships between concepts (connecting lines)
Relationships between concepts are expressed as
propositional statements

4. What is a Concept Map?
Propositions are statements about some
naturally occurring (or constructed) object or
event
Propositions form a meaningful statement
about the connection between two concepts
Concept maps are intended to be constructed
hierarchically – from top to bottom, with more
general concepts toward the top

5. Question related to a
general concept
specific concept
Even more
specific
specific concept
Linking words
Cross linkages

6. How Concept Maps Function
1. Promotes meaningful learning
2. Provides an additional resource for learning
3. Enables provision of feedback to students
4. Allows for assessment of learning and
performance

8. GROUP ACTIVITY
• Within your groups at your tables develop a
concept map that addresses this question:
• What is a SANDWICH?

10. RESOURCES
Novak, JD & AJ Canas, The Theory Underlying Concept Maps
and How to Construct and Use them, Technical Report IHMC
CmapTools 2006-01 Rev 01-2008, Florida Institute for Human
and Machine Cognition, 2008, available at
http://cmap/ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryUnd
erlyingConceptMapd.pdf

11. RESOURCES
• Torre DM, Steven JD, Daley BJ, Twelve Tips for Teaching with
Concept Maps in Medical Education. Medical Teacher, 2013;
35:201-208.
• Pudelko B, Young M, Vincent-Lamarre P, Charlin B, Mapping as a
Learning Strategy in Health Professions Education: a Critical
Analysis. Medical Education, 2012; 46:1215-1225.
• Daley BJ and Torre DM, Concept Maps in Medical Education : an
Analytical Literature Review. Medical Education, 2010; 44:440-448
• Web resource: http://cmap.ihmc.us/docs/learn.php