Concept mapping is a visual learning technique for representing related ideas in visual form.
Concept maps are tools for organising and representing knowledge. They illustrate concepts and the relationships between them. Links are shown by linking words that connect the relationship between two or more concepts. A concept and a linking phrase is referred to as a 'proposition'. Propositions are a fundamental building block of knowledge.
Concepts maps provide a process for thinkers to build their understanding by progressively adding information and increasing the complexity of the links. Concept maps encourage and allow a greater range of connections between concepts. The labelling of connections with linking phrases has been found to enhance meaningful learning and understanding. See the visual learning work of Joseph Novak and David Ausubel for more information.
Closely related to concept mapping, mind mapping ® is a technique popularised by Tony Buzan for representing related ideas which radiate out from the one central idea. Mind mapping ® is a useful visual learning tool for thinkers to share prior knowledge, to visualise and establish connections between ideas and to organise ideas quickly without judgment.
Cornerstone: Visual Thinking v1.2
