Concept mapping revisited

Knowledge constructed through active learning and peer validation, sticks

Concept maps
I've been searching for a way to build and share collaborative mind and concept maps since reading Joe Novak's book "Learning, creating and using knowledge", LEA 1998.

Concepts are basic knowledge building blocks, atoms if you like and they can be linked to complex propositions, helping us understand, appreciate and make sense of our world.

Concept  maps show the relationships between ideas and objects. They are intuitive, easy to read and convey meaning in a very practical and tangible way. Real benefits however come from constructing , altering, playing and enhancing those maps - a key practice for active learning.

Cmap is an open source tool that can be used in 'local' or 'open' mode. When a map is avaliable on a server it can be altered, annealed, refactored and enhanced then stored back on the server for the next interaction. This way it is possible to combine insights, show relationships, explore alternatives, develop deeper conceptions and examine emergent distinctions - key knowledge activities.

I'm excited at having a tool to diagram my personal thoughts, arrange emergent concepts, make new connections and explore deeper thinking - but the really significant advance, is being able to share concept maps, have others alter them, add meaning and expose gaps.

Download the tool and join us in a exploration of the role of tacit knowledge in bicycle riding - Access this experiment via IHMC's public Cmap folders (2) under knowledgeboard.

Comments

[Ian Terrell]

Just visited this site. So hi!. Lot's of interesting material. I shall be directing my colleagues here. Keep in touch

[Andrew Mitchell]

I'd love to join in the "exploration of the role of tacit knowledge in bicycle riding" but I can't find the IHMC's public Cmap folders. Can you be more specific about how to find these? I've looked under the "places" section in CMap and there are three places, none of which is IHMC.

Thanks!

[Matt Theobald]

BTW - I came accross your posting via ASIS&T and a top classification consultant in LA.

[Matt Theobald]

Hi Denham,

I'd like your personal recommendation on private blogware for KM for a team of classificationists I'm putting together for ISEN. Call me when you get a chance. 317.716.7729

[Benchimol]

I appreciate your open minded expression. We must follow our natural slope and concepts maps are compliant with it. But we have still to improve the way we use them because they are ONLY the mirror of our thoughts at a given instant.Nevertheless, they are, namely, a mean of recapitulating knowledge -or more surely metaknowledge- of ourself or a group of persons working on the same topic.