Concept maps are graphical tools used to organize and represent knowledge in a hierarchical structure. They include concepts connected by linking words or phrases to indicate relationships. To develop a concept map, key concepts are identified and ranked from most abstract to most concrete. Closely related concepts are clustered and arranged diagrammatically, with linking lines labeled with propositions. Concept maps help connect new ideas to prior knowledge, provide a framework for organizing information, and can be used as a learning or evaluation tool.

1. Submittedto: Mrs. GEETHA P
Lecturer in Mathematics
Submittedby: SUNIMOL.S
MATHEMATICS
Reg no: 18014383008
Submittedon : 26/10/2015
CONCEPT MAPPING

2. INTRODUCTION
Concept maps (knowledge maps or mind maps) are graphical tool for
organizing and representing knowledge. As a constructivist method of
learning, concept mapping is the individualized technique of
summarizing the relationship among different ideas in graphs while
encaged in learning activity. It is developed by Novak in 1972. A
concept map is a diagram showing the relationship in between concept.
According to Novak “A concept map is a visual
representation of the hierarchy and relation among concepts within the
individual’s mind”.
HOW TO DEVELOP CONCEPT MAPS
Concepts maps are graphical tool for organizing and representing
knowledge. They include concepts, usually, enclosed in circles or boxes
of same type and relationship between concepts indicated by a
connecting line linking to concepts. Words on the line, referred to as
linking words or linking phrases. Specify the relationship between two
concepts. The following are the steps involved in drawing concept map:
1. Select :Focus on a theme and then identify related key words or
phrases.
2. Rank: Rank the concepts (key words) from the most abstract and
inclusive to the most concrete and specific.

3. 3.Cluster:Cluster concepts that function at similar level of abstraction
and those that interrelate closely.
4. Arrange:Arrange concepts in to a diagrammatic representation.
5Link: Link concepts with linking lines and label each line with a
proposition.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONCEPT MAPPING.
1. Concept map is a tool for organizing and representing knowledge in
graphs.
2. It is a graphical method of taking notes.
3. It visualizes relationship between different concepts.
4. It is a special form of a web diagram for exploring knowledge and
gathering and sharing information
5. Concept maps connect multiple words or ideas.
6. A concept maps presents the relationships among a set of connected
concepts and ideas.
7. It is a pictorial representation of concepts in different hierarchies.
8. It consists of nodes(vertices) and arcs (links).Nodes represent
concepts and arcs represent the relation between concepts.

4. IMPORTANCE OF CONCEPT MAPS.
The following are the important uses of concept maps in classroom
learning:
1.The implementation of concept maps in the classroom allows both
the teacher and the student discovering and describing meaningful
relations among the concepts.
2.A concept map can also act as a `roads map` where some routes are
shown to be followed for connecting concepts meanings in such a way
that propositions can be achieved.
3.It help to connect new ideas to knowledge that the learner already
have.
4.They are a handy way to take notes during lectures and are excellent
aids to group brainstorming.
5.They assist in planning studies and also provide useful graphics for
presentations and written assignments.
6.They also help the learner to refine his creative and criticalthinking.
7.They provide students with a way to learn vocabulary independently.
8.Concept mapping provides a framework for organizing conceptual
information in the process of defining a word.
10.A concept map can be used not only as a learning tool but also as an
evaluation tool

5. CONCLUSION
Critical thinking has become a national issue in the education arena.
Educators might be successful in teaching the basics, but are perhaps
not always sure that their students will be able to analyses and
evaluated what they are taught.
This is a huge challenge to educators in general who
have well-developed critical and creative thinking skills with which to
organize, reorganize , conceptualize or re-conceptualize problems and
come up with feasible , rational solution ,concept mapping as a
teaching method to facilitate critical thinking by exploring the
theoretical framework and epistemological foundation of concept
mapping. The theoretical framework of critical thinking has provided
the framework within which concept mapping can be implemented in
accordance with the educational process format.
REFERENCE
*N.K Arjunan,Psychological bases of education.
*www.msu.edu/~luckie/ctools/
*cmap.ihmc.us/docs/constructingaconc….