Chapter 2

How can concept-mapping tools be used to address different learning styles?

What is a concept map?  Concept mapping is a technique for visually representing the structure of information, concepts, and the relationships between them. Concept maps are useful tools that help students learn about how they structure knowledge while supporting the process of knowledge construction.  So how can concept mapping address the many different learning styles we will come across in our classrooms?  We know that children learn differently, some auditory, some visually, etc.  If a student uses a concept map then the teacher can see how different his or her students present their information.  Some may present their information almost exclusively on the concepts related to their learning while others focus on the thought behind the concepts.  Furthermore, students have the opportunity to get in touch with their creative side.  As Bitter states in our text, “concept mapping leads to critical thinking, organizing, planning, learning across the curriculum, etc”.  Through concept mapping we can see how learning styles do influence student’s representations of what they are learning! Furthermore,  how can technology be integrated into teaching or the learning process or both, through concept mapping? This focus question intrigued me because I did not know how concept mapping could integrate with technology in the classroom.  A few great websites are given to us with our readings that integrate concept mapping, here are a few, ( www.inspiration.com , www.graphic.org ).