What is Concept Mapping?  Theory and Background Information

The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct Them
Discusses the origin and development of concept maps, how to construct them and ways to use them.

The Concept Mapping Homepage
Describes the purpose of using concept maps, the difference between concept maps and mindmaps, and provides links to useful sites and software.

Concept Mapping and Curriculum Design
From the Walker Teaching Resource Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, this article describes concept maps, how to make them, and their origins in constructivism.

Concept Mapping Bibliography
Extensive bibliography by Jan W.A. Lanzing, University of Twente, The Netherlands.  Includes texts, journal articles and WWW documents.

The Concept Mapping Workshop
Presents an introduction to concept mapping, step-by-step directions for constructing a map, and suggestions for when to use this strategy to foster "intelligent thinking."

Example Concept Maps

Types of Maps
The samples here show some of the kinds of maps students might create in prewriting for various kinds of assignments.

Concept Map
Concept maps are one type of graphic organizer, as described here.  Examples of concept maps are provided, their uses are explained, and links to related sites are listed.

Concept Mapping:  Example Map
Rectangular, cold, old & moldy can all be used to teach students to generate a concept map about similies and/or metaphors in speech & writing using the topic of school.

Concept Maps:  Introduction to Concept Maps
Contains links to examples of the 4 major categories of concept maps, special concept maps, and a concept map bank.

Teaching With Concept Maps: 
Lesson Plans and Software How-To's

Literacy and Concept Maps
Links to examples of activities using concept maps in literacy instruction with Inspiration software.

Kathy Schrock's Tech Quest:  What are the Benefits of Concept Mapping Software?
Describes software available for concept mapping and tells the benefits of using it.   Also gives some specific lesson ideas and how-to's for Inspiration and Kidspiration software.

Concept Mapping
Middle school science class uses concept mapping for geology lesson, "Our Dynamic Earth," to help students organize their information in a logical way so they can use it in their essay project.

Concept-Mapping Tools:  Visualizing & Organizing Ideas
Shows a lesson from the University of Delaware's Semantic Net Volcano Project, created with Inspiration.  This concept map uses color to explain the complex relationships between concepts.

Concept Mapping and Problem Solving
Describes a lesson on "Living Things" and "Plants" and how to illustrate their relationships with a concept map.

Flashes:  Inspiration/Kidspiration Newsletter
Features teachers sharing ideas for how to use Inspiration and Kidspiration software for concept mapping.  Contains links to back issues and free offers to subscribe right now.

Semantic Mapping for Concept Formation
Describes simple steps to teach students to use their own schema for organizing a concept map.