Chapter 12: Concept Maps for Learning: Theory, Research, and Design

Concept maps are node-link diagrams that represent verbal information. Serving as an alternative medium to written text, they typically have nodes labeled with noun phrases to denote concepts and arrows labeled with verb phrases to denote relationships between concepts. Like text, concept maps are used (a) as way for students to represent their knowledge in collaborative and individual learning activities, (b) to present information to students, and (c) to assess what students know. In this chapter we summarize the theory and research relating to the use of concept maps for these three instructional functions and consider their implications for design and practice. We conclude that concept maps should be viewed as tools for representing information whose instructional value hinges on the learning and assessment activities within which they are deployed and on characteristics of the learners who use them.