The Origin of Concept Maps and Theoretical Foundations

1. The Origin of Concept Maps and Theoretical Foundations Joseph D. Novak Cornell University, Professor Emeritus Senior Research Scientist Institute for Human and Machine Cognition jnovak@ihmc.us Beijing Normal University Professor’s Program August 12-17 Cleveland, Ohio

2. A concept map showing the key features of our concept maps

3. Our concept maps are based upon A Theory of Knowledge A Theory of Learning A Theory of Education

4. Epistemology: The study of knowledge and knowledge creation Most of the 19th and 20th Centuries: Dominated by Positivism and Logical Positivism: Truth, once established, is eternal. Developed in later half of 20th Century: Constructivism: Knowledge evolves over time.

5. Stephen Toulmin: Human Understanding: Knowledge is a human creation 1972, Human Understanding: The Collective Use and Evolution of Concepts 1922-2009

6. Novak: Human Constructivism, 1987; 1993 Human beings construct new knowledge through the process of meaningful learning

7. 1963-David Ausubel publishes the first comprehensive cognitive theory of learning. 1918-2008

8. Ausubel’s Theory of Learning Key idea: Each person must construct her/his own meanings for concepts and propositions from experiences over time, building her/his knowledge structure

9. Ausubel, 1968 Epigraph: The most important thing influencing learning is what the learner already knows Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.

10. Three Requirements for Meaningful Learning: • 1. Material to be learned must be inherently meaningful. • 2. The learner must possess some relevant concepts. • 3. The learner must choose to learning meaningfully.

11. Learning may vary from very rote to highly meaningful

12. Our brain is not An empty vessel to be filled

13. Most information learned by rote is lost in 6 months

14. Information Input Short-Term Memory Affective System Motor System Working Memory Long-Term Memory Our brain has several memory systems that interact

15. 6 year old studying seed growth In the early 1970’s, Novak’s research group at Cornell University faced the problem: How can we assess changes in Children’s understanding of basic science concepts?

16. A Theory of Knowledge Knowledge is built up from organized concepts and propositions

17. A Theory of Knowledge Concept: A perceived regularity or pattern in events or objects, or records of events or objects, designated by a label

18. A Theory of Knowledge Proposition: Two or more concepts combined to form a statement about something: a unit of meaning

19. 6 year old studying the particulate nature of matter

20. The design of each lesson had to be based on: What the learner already knows that is pertinent. What ideas will be needed in later lessons. What will interest and motivate the student. Each lessons required some 200 hours of staff time to design. Almost all equipment had to be designed by our staff.

21. A second grade child studying energy transformation in an Audio- Tutorial lesson

22. Novak’s research group used modified Piagetian clinical interviews

23. We needed a better way to represent children’s evolving conceptual understanding Concept mapping was invented and refined, 1972-74

24. In our 12-year longitudinal study, we found some striking examples of highly meaningful learning

25. The same children were followed with periodic interviews through grade twelve.

26. A concept map showing the key features of our concept maps

27. Using concept maps, it is possible to see exact changes in cognitive structure over time.

28. A-T instructed students A-T instructed students have progressively more valid concepts and fewer invalid conceptions from grades 2 through 12. A-T instructed children were building organized knowledge structures

29. Better thinking leads to better feelings and better acting

30. Human Constructivism: Humans create new knowledge by using high levels of meaningful learning (1987).

31. The use of concept mapping can help students learn meaningfully and to construct powerful knowledge structures.

32. Both high and low ability high school physics students in Maracay Venezuela who do Concept mapping perform much better.

33. Mean Problem solving scores for Concept mappers (Blue) and Traditional instruction (Red)

34. Alberto Cañas has led the group that created CmapTools at the Institute For Human and Machine cognition

35. CampTools allows for adding any digital resource to concepts

36. CmapTools software is being downloaded all over the world

37. In Panama, President Torrijos visits a 5th grade classroom creating concept maps using CmapTools software and the Internet

38. A concept map made by a team of 5th grade students in Panama

39. CmapTools and the Internet now make possible a New Model for Education

40. New Model for Education

41. For financial and educational reasons. Virtual Education is on the increase.

43. This is a statement of my theory of education as it stands today

44. The 2nd edition of this book expands on the ideas presented and also presents my Theory of Education and a New Model for Education. Routledge, 2010

45. Thank You

46. Download CmapTools at no cost at: http://cmap.ihmc.us Contact me at: jdn2@cornell.edu