Shape-bound words or phrases radiating from a central figure that represents the main idea of concept.
Liens connect the shapes and may contain words that explain the relationship.
Quick and efficient way to express complicated ideas.
Students should be allowed the freedom to construct their own concept maps.
Copying the teachers does not allow the student to negotiate meaning
Flow Diagram:
used for idea processes, event sequences and time lines.
Flow diagrams come from flow charts but differ in the way they are constructed.
They are shape bound texts, arrows show the direction or sequence of the topic.
Students also need to be prompted to create their own instead of predetermined boxes.
Tree diagram:
Frequently used to categorize and classify information.
Commonly used in math.
Can be made horizontally or vertically.
They typically radiate from a general concept to a primary level of classification.
Each level will have a greater degree of detail.
Matrices:
Arrangement of words or phrases in table format to be read BOTH horizontally and vertically.
Show relationships by comparing and contrasting or classifying attributes.
Synectic chart (Gordon, 1961) meant to foster creative thinking by requiring the learner to link disparate ideas. Dictionaries and a good thesaurus are helpful to students during this activity. Done is small groups where discussion can happen.