Burauen Community College Learning Activity Guides

LGU Compound, Burauen, Leyte August to December 2020

First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

Module 2: Concept Mapping

Prepared by:
Abegail Marie A. Endiape, LPT
Adelaida Q. Relente, LPT

Objectives:
At the end of the discussion, the following learning objectives will be attained by the students with at least
75% accuracy:
1. The students will be able to illustrate and distinguish the different types and uses of concept map.
2. The students will be able to describe and generate the idea of a concept map into various diagrams.
3. The students will be able to apply the guidelines set by the module and expound their knowledge of the
concept map on each of the course learning activities.

Direct Course Instruction

Definitions of Concept Maps

Before we go into the definition of a concept map, we should first ask, 'What's a concept?' A concept is, basically,
an idea which refers to a thought or collection of thoughts that generate in the mind. Moreover, an idea is usually
generated with intention, purpose or a goal, but can also be created unintentionally. Ideas often form during
brainstorming sessions or through discussions. We all know what a map is; it is an image that shows part or the whole
of something. Based on these two definitions, we can gather that a concept map probably shows the different parts of
an idea (Gonzales, 2020).
More specifically in the same online website of study.com authored by Gonzales (2020) it detailed that a concept
map is diagram (a simple explanatory drawing or chart) that goes from the top to bottom of a page with the core concept
(main, central, principal idea) at the top and associated concepts below it in bubbles or boxes, with lines or arrows
illustrating the relationships between the concepts. This tool's purpose is for organization of ideas or concepts, as well
as showing how they are interconnected (joined onto one another or related to each other).
Relevantly, concept maps are a framework (structure) for visualizing the relationships between big, cross-
functional ideas. Using boxes and connecting lines, concept maps connect ideas and show their relationship to each
other. In a concept map, each idea in a box is called a node. The branches that connect two nodes are called cross-links.
The cross-links often have words that help explain the relationships between the connections (Kool, 2020).

Who Invented Concept Maps?

So, who invented concept maps in the first place? In 1972, Joseph D. Novak, a professor at Cornell University,
was studying how kids' knowledge of science changes. He created a concept map to represent this concept. He then
decided that concept mapping was not only a great tool to see a visual representation of concepts and their relationships,
but if his students could create concept maps, it would show that they were understanding the material they learned in
his courses (Gonzales, 2020).
Components of a Concept Map
There are several components of concept maps that make them stick out from other visual organizers, such as
mind maps. Let's go over the typical components of a concept map specified by Gonzales (2020):
• Concepts are enclosed in boxes or circles usually.
• Concepts go from top to bottom, in a hierarchical fashion.
• The main concept(s) are usually in a bigger box or circle at the top of the concept map and other concepts
branch down from it.
• The verbs on the branches connecting concepts are called linking words or linking phrases, which denote the
relationship between the two concepts.
As specified by Learning Center (2020) on the online site of the University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill,
concept maps are visual representations of information. They can take the form of charts, graphic organizers, tables,
flowcharts, Venn Diagrams, timelines, or T-charts. Concept maps are especially useful for students who learn better
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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

visually, although they can benefit any type of learner. They are a powerful study strategy because they help you see the
big picture—because they start with higher-level concepts, they help you chunk information based on meaningful
connections. In other words, knowing the big picture makes details more significant and easier to remember.
Concept maps work very well for classes or content that have visual elements or in times when it is important
to see and understand relationships between different things. They can also be used to analyze information and compare
and contrast.
Another definition as discussed by Christensen (2020), concept mapping is brainstorming with a purpose. You
start with the main or principal concept that you break down into its smaller parts, using arrows and linking words to
show how ideas are connected. Common in education, concept maps are helpful in any field by driving creative and
visual thinking.
A concept map helps you gain a better understanding of complex topics, see the big picture, and discover new
connections through a collaborative and visual approach.

Uses of Concept Map

Taken from Kool (2020), here are the following uses of concept maps:
1. Structure and organize ideas
Concept mapping is great for when you have a lot of ideas, but don’t know exactly how to organize and layer them. The
hierarchical structure of a concept map organizes ideas from large big themes, to smaller, specific.
2. Show relationships between ideas
When focusing on a big team project, it’s easy to have branching ideas fall between the task. Instead of going from task
A to task D, you use a concept map to map out tasks B and C.
3. Visualize the overall concept
Visual learning helps anyone from students to CEOs, so creating a visual element that team members can understand
is critical when selling your ideas.
4. Surface creative solutions
Big concepts require creative ideas, and concept maps help team members share solutions to tasks in a creative way.

Here are the following uses of concept map taken from the online article of Athuraliya (2020).
• Foster meaningful learning by helping create connections between what students already know and new
knowledge they acquire
• Organize knowledge around a subject for quick analysis
• Assess students’ understanding to see where their knowledge needs improvement
• Conduct effective brainstorming around a topic.
• Present complex concepts in an easily and understandable way.
• Organize instructional material for courses or curricula.
• Can be used as a basis for discussion among students.
• Help identify valid and invalid ideas held by students.
• Help promote creative and critical thinking among students
• Can be used as an alternative to traditional note-taking and writing assignments

Steps in making a concept map:

Since we already discussed concepts relating to concept map, let us learn about the steps in developing a concept
map. The process of concept mapping involves three major steps:
Step 1: To start building your concept map, you need to build ideas off of your central theme. Find something general
that captures all of your brainstormed ideas. Your main idea might change as you start to conceptually map your ideas
out, but that’s okay. Concept mapping should be a flexible brainstorming exercise that surfaces new ideas and
relationships.
Step 2: List key concepts/terms related to the topic
List all the concepts related to the topic which you consider essential to understanding the topic. For example,
for the topic "cooperative learning," Jose determined the key concepts to be:
✓ Team Responsibilities
✓ Individual Responsibilities
✓ Characteristics
✓ Roles
Step 3: Build up concepts to elaborate key concepts
After defining the key concepts, you then expand on those concepts. Ask yourself the question:
"What are the important concepts, facts, ideas, terms, etc. that explain the key concept?"
Step 4: Identify links between concepts/order your ideas
It is important to show how or why certain concepts relate to one another. This is called linking – explaining the
connection between two separate parts of your concept map.

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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

Types of Concept Map

1. Spider or Star Concept Mapping
A spider, star map, or popularly known as center map is a brainstorming or organizational tool that provides
a visual framework for students to use. A spider map has a main idea or topic in the center, or the body, of the diagram.
Each detail or sub-topic associated with the main idea has its own leg, or branch, surrounding the main idea (Lupiani,
2020).
Spider or star mapping is great for concepts that are multiple details to connect. For example, you are trying to
memorize of specific topic no one details shall leave the other. The spider map used to explain the main idea by using
the three (3) questions “What is the central idea?”, “What are its attributes?” and “What are its functions?” One
advantage of spider map is it makes your association and see relationship among central and supporting details.
Moreover, a basic spider diagram starts with a main idea or topic in the center circle, with all subordinate ideas
branching off of it. To add more details, you can further investigate certain aspects, make connections between ideas,
and fill in the gaps (Lucid chart, 2020).

Spider Map A

Spider Map B

Illustrative Example:
The box below represents the ideas that were made into a spider, center, or star map. Thus, this was basis for
the concept below. The ideas are as follows:

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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

The illustrative example above shows that the center (animals) refers to the major concept or the main idea of
the text whereas the other terms that are connected with a line and written inside the box are the minor concept that are
related to the major concept.

2. Venn Diagrams: Compare and Contrast

According to Kenton (2020), John Venn, an English logician popularized the diagram in the 1880s. He called
them Eulerian circles after the Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler, who created similar diagrams in the 1700s. The term
Venn diagram did not appear until 1918 when Clarence Lewis, an American academic philosopher and the eventual
founder of conceptual pragmatism, referred to the circular depiction as the Venn diagram in his book A Survey of
Symbolic Logic.
A Venn diagram is an illustration that uses circles to show the relationships among things or finite groups of
things. Circles that overlap have a commonality (similarities) while circles that do not overlap do not (difference/s)
share those traits. This diagram helps to visually represent the similarities and differences between two concepts
(Kenton, 2020 & LucidChart, 2020). Aside from using circles, Venn diagram also can be represented by other types of
enclosed.

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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

Based on the specified idea of Enchanted Learning (2018), in mathematics, Venn diagrams are used to visualize
the relationship between two or three sets. Venn diagrams can also be used to compare and contrast the characteristics
of any other items, like groups of people, individual people, books, characters, animals, and many more.
Illustrative Example:

The Venn diagram was drawn to illustrate the two (2) types of animals, mammals and fish. Additionally, this
diagram shows the characteristics of mammals and fish, which are grouped as two ovals. Oval A at the left side shows
the characteristics of mammals such as warm blooded, have hair or fur, breathe with lungs, and have live birth while
Oval B at the right side shows the characteristics of fish specifically they are cold blooded, scaly skin, hatch from eggs,
breath with gills, and live in water. The commonalities as specified, vertebrates and have a skeleton are placed inside
the overlapping region of the two ovals
3. T-Chart
As discussed by Lupiani (2020), a T Chart (or T-Chart) is a graphic organizer that separates information into
columns, traditionally for comparing. It gets its name from the basic version with two columns: it looks like the letter
"T" and is both versatile and commonly used across all subjects.
Furthermore, according to Enchanted learning (2020), T-Charts are a type of chart, a graphic organizer in which
a student lists and examines two facets of a topic, like the pros and cons associated with it, its advantages and
disadvantages, facts vs. opinions, etc. Also, it demonstrates a clear division of items or topics with heading on the top
and columns below them (Pfieffer, 2020). Based on the Visual paradigm (2020), by listing points side by side, it gives
you and your readers a quick, at-a-glance overview of the facts being presented and helps to make decisions or arrive
at conclusions quicker and easier.

A specified by Pfieffer (2020), a T-chart can be use by the students to help graphically organize thoughts about:
• Making a decision by comparing resulting advantages and disadvantages (like getting a pet or taking a new
job),
• Evaluating the pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of a topic (for example, adopting a new
invention),

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• Enumerating the problems and solutions associated with an action (for example, analyzing the plot of a book
or a topic like poor nutrition),
• Listing facts vs. opinions of a theme (great to use after reading a selection of text or a news article),
• Explaining the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of writing (useful after reading a piece of persuasive or
expository writing),
• Listing any two characteristics of a topic (like the main ideas for a given topic and a salient detail for each idea).
Illustrative Example:

The Illustrative example above presented the disadvantages and advantages of using mobile phones. Based on
the chart in can be seen that on left side of the chart shows the five (5) advantages while on the right side of the chart it
can be observed that the (5) disadvantages in using cellular phones were listed.

4. Flow Chart
A flowchart is a graphical representations of steps. It was originated from computer science as a tool for
representing algorithms and programming logic but had extended to use in all other kinds of processes. Nowadays,
flowcharts play an extremely important role in displaying information and assisting reasoning. They help us visualize
complex processes, or make explicit the structure of problems and tasks. A flowchart can also be used to define a process
or project to be implemented (Visual paradigm, 2020).
A flowchart is a diagram that depicts a process, system or computer algorithm. They are widely used in multiple
fields to document, study, plan, improve and communicate often complex processes in clear, easy-to-understand
diagrams. Flowcharts, sometimes spelled as flow charts, use rectangles, ovals, diamonds and potentially numerous
other shapes to define the type of step, along with connecting arrows to define flow and sequence.

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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

Flow chart A Flow chart B

What are the benefits of using flowchart? The benefits of using flowchart is that it helps to clarify complex
processes. It identifies steps that do not add value to the internal or external customer, including delays; needless storage
and transportation; unnecessary work, duplication, and added expense; breakdowns in communication. It helps team
members gain a shared understanding of the process and use this knowledge to collect data, identify problems, focus
discussions, and identify resources. Lastly, it serves as a basis for designing new processes.

Illustrative Example:

The illustrative example above shows the procedure on how to cook a fried egg (specifically a sunny side up). It can be
observed that the process starts from cracking the egg/s; second, by adding and boiling the oil to the pan; third, add the
egg to the pan; forth, by adding the salt to the egg; next, you need to cover the pan when the edges turn white and lower
the heat, and lastly, serve when cooked. Therefore, flow chart can give us idea on how something is done or a certain
event happened.

4. Organizational Chart
An organizational chart is alternatively referred to as “org charts” or “organization charts” a diagram that visually
conveys a company's internal structure by detailing the roles, responsibilities, and relationships between individuals
within an entity. This is a diagram that displays a reporting or relationship hierarchy.
According to Bloomenthal (2019), an organizational charts graphically display an employee's hierarchical status
relative to other individuals within the company. For example, an assistant director will invariably fall directly below a
director on the chart, indicating that the former reports to the latter. Organizational charts use simple symbols such as
lines, squares, and circles to connect different job titles that relate to each other.
As specified by Startdraw (2020), Org charts have a variety of uses, and can be structured in many different
ways. They might be used as a management tool, for planning purposes, or as a personnel directory, for example.
Perhaps your organization doesn't operate in a "command and control" style, but instead relies on teams.
Organizational charts are useful in a number of ways. Here are a few of the ways your company or group can
benefit from an org chart; (1) how work responsibilities and reporting relationships; (2) allow leadership to more
effectively manage growth or change; (3) allow employees to better understand how their work fits into the
organization's overall scheme; (4) improve lines of communication; (4) create a visual employee directory; present other
types of information, such as business entity structures and data hierarchies.
In addition, an organizational chart shows the internal structure of an organization or company. The employees
and positions are represented by boxes or other shapes, sometimes including photos, contact information, email and
page links, icons and illustrations. Straight or elbowed lines link the levels together. With our org chart software, this
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LGU Compound, Burauen, Leyte August to December 2020
First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

creates a clear visual depiction of the hierarchy and ranks of different people, jobs, and departments that make up the
organization (Lucidchart, 2020).
Illustrative Example:

The illustrative example above presented the organizational chart for a family tree. It can be observed that they
displayed the hierarchy of Perez family. It started from Mr. and Mrs. Perez, the parents, followed by their 2 sons and 1
daughter (Bella, Drake, and John). The chart above shows that each children of Mr. and Mrs. Perez has its partners and
have their own children. In using organizational chart, it is indeed helpful to us most especially in knowing the hierarchy
of the family member.

Rubrics in Evaluating a Concept Map

Concept Mapping
Criteria Approaching Expectation Meeting Expectation Exceeding Expectation
(1- 10 pointd) (11- 20 points) (21- 30 points)
Concept ▪ Insufficient concepts ▪ Acceptable number of ▪ Most concepts and all
selected relating to topic concepts selected with significant concepts
some relationships to selected and they clearly
▪ Arrangement of concepts topic relate to the topic
shows a little
understanding of ▪ Arrangement of ▪ Arrangement of concepts
relationship between them concepts demonstrates demonstrate complete
some understanding of and insightful
▪ Relationship between relationship between understanding of
concepts are weak them relationship between
them
▪ Relationship make
some logical sense. ▪ Relationship make logical
sense, with little errors
Hierarchical ▪ Only a few concepts ▪ Some concepts ▪ Most or all concepts
structure connected in a hierarchical connected in a connected in a
structure hierarchical structure hierarchical structure
moving from major leading from more
ideas to minor ideas. complex to less complex,
and on to specific
concepts
Linkages ▪ A few relationships ▪ Some relationships ▪ Most or all relationships
indicated by connecting lines indicated by connecting indicated by connecting
lines lines
▪ Only a few line labeled with
linking words ▪ Some lines labeled with ▪ All lines labeled with
linking words linking words are
▪ Many errors in the linking accurate and varied
words ▪ Some errors in the
linking words
Cross-links ▪ No cross links used ▪ A few cross links are ▪ Cross links show complex
used to illustrate relationships between
straightforward two or more different
connections part of the concept map

Rubric for a Concept Map, Adapted by Hilary McLead from: Beyond Monet, VISUTTranX, 2001. Retrieved from March 16,
2008 from: https://www.ohassta.org/resources/generalresorces.htm

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First Semester, SY 2020- 2021

References
Athuraliya, A. (2020). The Ultimate Guide to Concept Maps: From Its Origin to Concept Map Best Practices. Cinergix
Pty. LtdI. Retrieved from https://creately.com/blog/diagrams/ultimate-concept-map-tutorial/
Bloomenthal, A. (2019). Organizational Chart. Investopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/organizationalchart.asp#:~:text=An%20organizational%20char
t%20is%20a,a%20specific%20department%20or%20unit.
Christensen, E. (2020). How to make concept map. Lucid Software Inc. Retrieved from
https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/how-to-make-a-concept-map
Flowchart Tutorial (with Symbols, Guide and Examples). (2020). Visual Paradigm. Retrieved from
https://www.visualparadigm.com/tutorials/flowcharttutorial/#:~:text=A%20flowchart%20is%20simply
%20a,by%20connecting%20them%20with%20arrows.
Graphic Organizers. (2018). Enchanted Learning. Retrieved from
https://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/venn/
Gonzales, K. (2020). Concept Map: Definition & Examples. Study.com. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/concept-map-definition-examples.html
Kenton, W. (2020). Venn Diagram. Investopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venndiagram.asp#:~:text=A%20Venn%20diagra
m%20is%20an,and%20differences%20between%20tw o%20concepts.
Kool, H. (2020). Concept mapping: the key to visualizing your ideas. Miro Inc. Retrieved from
https://miro.com/blog/concept-map/
Learning Center (2020). Concept Maps. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from
https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/using-concept-maps/
Lupiani, N. (2020). Spider Map Graphic Organizers in the Classroom. StoryboardThat. Retrieved from
https://www.storyboardthat.com/articles/e/spidermap#:~:text=A%20spider%20map %20is%20a,th
e%20body%2C%20of%20the%20diagram.
Organizationl chart. (2020). Smartdraw. Retrieved from https://www.smartdraw.com/organizational-chart/
Pfeiffer, P. (2020). T- Chart graphic organizer. Edraw. Retrieved from
https://www.edrawsoft.com/graphicorganizer/t- chart.html
T chart example. (2020). Visual Paradigm. Retrieved from https://online.visual-paradigm.com/diagrams/templates/t-
chart/t-chart-example/
Weaving Ideas with Spider Diagrams. (2020). Lucidchart software Inc. Retrieved from
https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/weaving-ideas-with-spider-diagrams
What is a flowchart? (2020). Lucidchart Software, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/what-is-a-
flowchart-tutorial
What is a Venn diagram? (2020). Lucidchart. Retrieved https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/tutorial/venn-diagram

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