|
By Bill Thomas
Saturday, September 21, 2002
Revealed: The Hard
Reality and Softer Side of Concept Maps
Do you think Concept Maps are just artistic expression
or legitimate "business" drawings? Professor William M.K. Trochim, one
of the world's foremost Concept Mappers, asks that same question of
business and service leaders.
To explain, recommend, or decompose
our ideas, we knowledge workers must assemble, organize and communicate
disjointed facts to others - Concept Maps are an excellent means for
achieving those ends.
Trochim advocates using Concept Maps as
tools to depict, analyze and manage social development programs.
However, since 1983, Dr. Trochim has applied these maps in hundreds of
different places to prove their usefulness for most types of
knowledge-transfer, -enhancement and -management situations.
We
may turn our Concept Maps into pictures of reality, on the other hand,
they may be employed to suggest "new ways to [visualize, conceptualize
or] look at our experiences", circumstances or imaginings, or we can use
maps as devices to stimulate our plans and strategies.
Professor
Trochim believes Concept Maps represent both the soft side of science
and the hard form of art - you may find them helpful for both
purposes. He observes these truths,
"After all, like art,
science requires creativity and insight especially in theory development
stages. And like science, art requires a mastery of skills, methods,
tools and technologies"
How could you shape your ideas,
thoughts, questions or challenges using the principles of concept
mapping? Are you willing to combine the methods and strategies of art
with the objective creativity of science? Do you believe concept maps
can energize your creativity, empower your ideas and help you to
influence and persuade others?
Professor Joseph D. Novak, who created the Concept Map
in the 1960s, based his work on this premise, "Meaningful learning
involves the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing
cognitive structures"
The late Professor Jan Lanzing of the University of
Twente, in the Netherlands, described the Concept Map in these ways:
It is a process, method or "...a technique for representing
knowledge in graphs."
He helped us see Concept Maps as,
"Knowledge graphs" that are composed of, "networks
of concepts [and these networks] consist of nodes (points/vertices)
and links (arcs/edges)." Lanzing, an avid student of mapping
systems like mind-maps, fishbone diagrams, and others, further defines
the Concept Map as a system of,
"Nodes [which] represent concepts and links [that] represent
the relations between concepts.[where] Concepts and sometimes links
are labeled. Links can be non-, uni- or bi-directional. Concepts and
links may be categorised, they can be simply associative, specified or
divided in categories such as causal or temporal
relations. Explaining how Concept mapping helps us accomplish
knowledge-work tasks, Lanzing points out several key ways: for instance,
we can use Concept Maps,
- to generate ideas (brain storming, etc.);
- to design a complex structure (long texts, hypermedia, large web
sites, proposals/reports, etc.);
- to communicate complex ideas;
- to aid learning by explicitly integrating new and old knowledge;
- to assess understanding or diagnose
misunderstanding.
Discussing the challenges facing students and educators
in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Douglas McCabe, formerly of the Hong
Kong Polytechnic University, actually reveals the essential dilemma of
today's knowledge workers,
"The student [knowledge-work
specialist, professional or manager] must be able to decide whether the
information is part of an existing concept, or whether it is part of a
different concept, and the degree to which the two concepts are
related.
[These knowledge workers] must also see how these
concepts relate to other concepts. The ability to rise above the level
of information and to think about matters at a conceptual level is
generally what we mean by 'intelligent [intuitive, critical or systems]
thinking'."
Issues of reliability and validity of Concept mapping
aside, we can agree that each map is a personalized or corporate
viewpoint of its situation on its own merit and useful for its
creator(s).
That a map have a definitive purpose and reason for
being should suffice - if it communicates the relationships, metrics and
descriptives necessary for achieving an understanding between its
creators and their constituents then the map has proven itself to be
worthy.
Your Concept Maps can help you attain any of the
following purposes - feel free to use these powerful tools to persuade,
influence or educate others:
- Planning & Visualizing;
- Reviewing, Discussing, Analyzing & Evaluating;
- Designing Interview & Survey Instruments, or Research
Projects;
- Developing Courses, Curricula, Interventions &
Knowledge-transfers, etc.;
- Building, Strengthening or Sharpening Theories, Postulates,
Propositions, Platforms & Positions;
- Managing resources, tasks, activities, campaigns &
programs
The Concepts of Syntopic Universe are designed to help
you achieve any knowledge work purpose, they can lead you to greater
recognition and higher levels of performance - see them diagrammed in a
Concept-map - Click
HERE to study it
If you're prepared to perfect your Concept and Mind
mapping skills, boost your modeling competencies and launch your career
to the highest of heights - enroll in this proven program for Heroines
and Heroes and discover your special place for breakthrough
results.
How Can You Be a Heroine or Hero?
Syntopic "Heroic" Program Members regularly
attain outstanding professional growth in their endeavors
through the personal attention, flexibility and impact of
this affordable 3-month long training and coaching follow-up
Program. If you hunger for "breakthrough results" that are GUARANTEED to
deliver 100% Measurable ROI then you must
Click HERE to "reach Heroic Status" and Sweet Success
today!
References:
[1] Concept
Mapping: Soft Science or Hard Art?, William M.K. Trochim, Ph.D., Cornell
University, © 1988-1989
[2] Jan Lanzing, The Concept Mapping
Homepage, University of Twente, Netherlands, 1997
[3] Douglas McCabe, Concept Mapping Workshop,
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 1989
Bill Thomas is Managing Principal of Syntopic
Intelligence and Senior Vice-President of Mustard Seed Investments, Inc.
He consults with clients in over 75 countries on various business,
organizational and technology issues. He also writes
and lectures on new models, skills and resources for knowledge
work and the Knowledge Economy.
He can be reached at: mailto:bill@syntopic.net?Subject:Ezine
Article |
Goal-Setting Software
Click HERE for FREE Trial!
SUCCESS STRATEGIES -
Do you seek
"pathways-to-success" that come with a GUARANTEED 100%
ROI?
Would you like to see training and coaching programs that
have proven practical, realistic solutions? -
Click HERE to see 18+ affordable
ways you can reach for and achieve sweet
success
KEEP A JOURNAL - BOOST YOUR EFFECTIVENESS
Inspire, guide and empower your way to making more significant, valuable and meaningful contributions. Live a prosperous life - Journal Your Way!
Doreene's 5-year Journal - Click HERE - learn how to nurture your growth
THINK RIGHT NOW!
Are you ready to energize the transformation of your life, career or personal development?
These low-cost, popular, highly effective programs will launch and accomplish those changes you always wanted to make.
Why Wait? THINK SUCCESS NOW!
30-DAY FREE TRIAL
GOAL-SETTING SOFTWARE
It's up to you to determine your destiny - this program helps you attain your hopes, dreams & desires
Decide For Yourself
IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS
Sharpen your business & management writing excellence using this fabulously designed, self-paced, knowledge-rich training system. Learn more about this cost-effective elearning course
Act Now - Click HERE
FAST-TRACK PROGRAMS -
You can
sharpen & learn new skills, improve your career
options and earn more $$$ in just 45, 90, or 150 minutes. Choose our live, instructor-led
Each
Program includes pre-class study materials and post-class 30 day "Performance Enhancer" action Guide Sheets to help you practice and improve your skills.
Are
you ready for low-cost, high-impact ways to reach the "frontiers-of-success"?
Click HERE to get your rewards for learning success!
RESUME HELP -
Does your resume/CV/Letter of
Qualifications command attention, and compel employers to call
you?
Want your cover letters to have more impact & pizzazz?
Do you need help with that special report, article, or do you want your ideas to influence & persuade others?
See the experts at:
ResumeEdge.com
Try these FREE lessons
Lesson Five: Intros and
Conclusions
Lesson Four: Style and
Tone
EARNINGS GROWTH -
You're
qualified, so be recognized for your talents by your employers & clients! Get paid for your skills and expertise -
Pump up your resume.
Take a FREE online Professional Skills Certification Exam. 
Certify your skills, prove your competence, ,
show them your talents & know-how with these FREE Certification
tests and skill-assessments.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT -
Speaking of human-capital [your
knowledge assets, emotional attitude & EQ] - how's your
professional growth coming along? Do you need more career options,
or a better job, higher earnings, or your next
promotion?
Super-charge your
career with Vault's Resume Review and Career Coaching!
Take your career to new
heights
SOCIAL CAPITAL -
You can make all the
difference in the life of an innocent person.
You can help
- share your good fortune with those who are less
fortunate.
A child who is suffering will survive to enjoy the fruits
of your kindness.
Share hope. Be a
sponsor. 
Save-A-Child and when you do, we will also make a
$12 donation to "Feed the Children"
Your small gift will turn
into a BIG deal, Please help "Save" + "Feed" a Child,
today
TOOLS & RESOURCES -
Did you know that IBM has "Special Deals" for your home, office & data center computing needs - if you don't look & see, you won't know what you're missing!
Click HERE Don't Delay!
Need help with your Inspiration, Motivation or Day-dreaming?
Use these mind-, soul- & spirit-expanding items -
Visit successories.com!
Do you feel a bit sluggish, want to get those creative juices flowing, or need extra energy?
Brand Name Vitamins for Less
Want to boost your self-confidence, positive chi or mental agility? Get
Tony Robbins Personal Power
Learn how to effectively plan, organize and manage your situations
Click HERE for More Info
Lower All Your Costs for Phone, Fax, Conferencing, Security & Calling Cards - Get low USA Rates - No Matter Where You Live!
Boost Your Public Speaking Skills - A Complete Success System All in One Place!
Download Your Copy Today!
Pick-up great bargins - Up to 80% savings on name brand goods, DVDs & 1000s more!
Act Quickly - Click HERE
Net2Phone is the global leader in long distance savings!
Save $$$ on all your Office needs - this week only!
Special Deals from Major Office Supplies Store!
|