Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities

Tabitha Rudegeair

October 09, 2007

Concept Map 2

Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities

The first summary had examples of skills that I thought would improve my students’ writing through concept maps. I now realize, however, I was supposed to give examples of creative ways that I could use concept mapping in my classroom. Therefore, I will give those examples now. I would use concept mapping to start off a creative writing piece, introduce a new book, after researching a topic, or after reading a novel. These four examples would benefit by using concept mapping because it will help my students ‘visualize’ their notes, research, thoughts, etc. into something that will outline their ideas to get them organized.

The use of concept mapping activities engage my students in their learning by being able to visualize their information, brainstorm great ideas for a new book to promote interest, and give an easier, more organized outline for their paper. There are different types of learners and concept mapping can actually reach visual and hands-on learners. Concept mapping is obviously most helpful for visual learners because they can see all of the information and group them where they need to be. As for the hands-on learners, they are drawing out their own concept map that they can design any way they like and that is helpful for them.

If I want to introduce a new book, I can have the students read the back of the book or choose a passage and write a concept map on what they think the book will entail. This means they can start out with what they know about the story and then move on into imagining what the ending will be like or what other interesting issues will come up. This is a great way to promote interest for my students. Making a concept map will also help the students critically think and make up hypothesis about the ending of the story. Concept mapping will also be great for organizing their paper and making an outline to start writing their essay.

Concept mapping changes the way my students can demonstrate that they understand a concept or topic I will be teaching by explaining what they could comprehend through visuals. If I read aloud, they could make a concept map of the characters, main ideas, the climax, etc. and this will show me if they were listening to the story or not. Concept mapping will always be helpful in the classroom for anything we choose to do; however, it is not necessary for all papers or activities.