Capturing Conceptual Change

Capturing Conceptual Changewith Concept Mapping Freeware

Bradley Bergey, M.S.Ed

pastimperfect.wordpress.com bradley.bergey@gmail.comwww.bfischool.org

Capturing Change

Where we’re heading

Relevant Research Defining Concept Maps Free Software Research Questions Student Examples Ideas for Application Evaluating Concept Maps

Relevant Research Findings

National Research Council (2000)

National Research Council (2000)

Expert/Novice Studies

How do experts think about topics and/or solve problems differently than novices?

Not a list of facts, formulas, names, dates, etc.

(National Research Council, 2000)

(though experts know more of these than novices)

Experts organize their thinking differently than novices .

(National Research Council, 2000)

Experts organize their thinking

around big ideasand

In chunks

(National Research Council, 2000)

organization matters

Existing schema is used to build new knowledge

Constructivism:

fish is fish

Anais Nin:

“We see things not as they arebut as we are”

Initial conceptualization matters

organization mattersinitial conceptualization matters

ConceptualizeTo have a mental model that includes the

components and relationships that make up an

idea.

Often held tacitly

Making students’ thinking transparent

concept mapa visual organization of concepts in which components and relationships are demonstrated spatially

SoftwareCmap Tools cmap.ihmc.us/

Downloads (Free)FreeMindVUE

On-lineBubb.us Gliffy OnlineMind42

My questions?

How do students conceptualize the topic at the beginning of the unit?

How does that change by the end of the unit?

Middle Ages [grade 7]Iraq [grade 10]

Steps of the Process

Step 1: Individual students starting point

Free write ID concepts Map concepts

7th Grader: Starting Conceptualization of the Middle Ages

Steps of the Process

Step 1: Individual students starting point Free write ID concepts Map concepts

Step 2: Combine Individual concept maps with group members

7th Graders: Group Conceptualization

7th Graders: Group Conceptualization

Steps of the Process

Step 1: Individual students starting point Free write ID concepts Map concepts

Step 2: Combine Individual concept maps with group members

Step 3: Group research on pre-selected web sites

Steps of the Process

Step 1: Individual students starting point Free write ID concepts Map concepts

Step 2: Combine Individual concept maps with group members

Step 3: Group research on pre-selected web sites

Step 4: Record changes

let’s take a look

Go to: www.pastimperfect.wordpress.comChoose one set of maps, either:

A-Iraq-StartA-Iraq-End

orB-Iraq-StartB-Iraq-End

With a person near you, consider:1. What is the student’s starting conceptualization?

What’s unclear? What misunderstood? What’s missing?

2. What has changed in the conceptualization?3. What further questions do you have for the student

about their final conceptualization? What areas would you encourage him/her to pursue further?

Convergent & Divergent thinking

applying it

CollaborateReflectDocument

qualitative feedback

Elaboration How much does the student know?

Organization How does the student organize his/her thinking?

Change How does the conceptual organization change over

time?

bradley.bergey@gmail.comwww.pastimperfect.wordpress.com

www.bfischool.org