1. Key Ideas Underlying Concept Maps and How They are Used
Joseph D. Novak
Professor Emeritus, Cornell University
Senior Research Scientist
Institute for Human and Machine Cognition
Haines City, FL, February 25, 2006

2. Based on:
A Theory of Knowledge
A Theory of Learning

3. A Theory of Knowledge All knowledge is built up
from Concepts and Propositions

4. A Theory of Knowledge Concept:
A perceived regularity or pattern in events or objects, or records of events or objects, designated by a label

5. A Theory of Knowledge Proposition:
Two or more concepts combined to form a statement about something: a unit of meaning

6. A Theory of Knowledge Concept Maps: A tool to represent the
Structure of knowledge

7. Concept Map about Concept Maps

8. New Theory of Learning Key idea: Each person must
construct her/his own meanings for concepts and propositions from experiences over time, building her/his knowledge structure

9. Traditional Model of Instruction

10. Key Memory Systems of the Brain
Short-Term
Memory
Working
Long-Term
Affective
System
Motor
Information
Input

11. A 4-year old concept mapping relatives

13. Learning may vary from highly rote to highly meaningful

14. Learning by rote usually leads to rapid forgetting.

15. an Audio- Tutorial lesson in 1966
A first grade child studying electricity in
an Audio- Tutorial lesson in 1966

16. Birth of Concept Maps
Overwhelmed by hundreds of transcripts
from interviews with children, we sought
a better way of representing changes in
children’s understanding of science concepts
Thus was born the tool we call concept maps

17. Paul’s ideas about the nature of matter , Grade 2

18. Paul’s ideas about the nature of matter , Grade 12

19. The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition created CmapTools in the 1990’s and continue to refine the tools.

20. One of the concept maps for Algebra 1 created at UNF.

21. David Ferrera’s concept map.
Web site

22. C-Maps as Navigational Tool

23. An overview concept map for Mars Exploration
showing some resources attached to this map.

24. New Model for Education
CmapTools together with the Internet
Permits development of a
New Model for Education

25. We can provide “expert skeleton” concept maps to guide learners.

26. Proyecto Conectate seeks to introduce all 4th-6th students in Panama
to use CmapTools and the Internet to build their own knowledge models

27. Panamanian chidren are excited about learning this way.

28. All kinds of learning experiences can be
integrated to create a digital portfolio.

29. You are pioneers who
shall help to transform
Mathematics Education.

30. You are pioneers
who will help to
transform education
in Florida!

31. Thank you