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Introduction:
This is a project that allows you to showcase your knowledge and understanding of math concepts to other students near and far! That’s right! Your understanding of those “big ideas” your teacher keeps trying to teach you can now be displayed for the entire world to see, giving you an opportunity to share your expert knowledge with other middle school students around the globe. There is also an opportunity to analyze and critique concept maps created by other students and see how their maps compare with yours!
Your Task:
In your study of mathematics, you have learned a lot of concepts and how they connect to each other. As you cover a unit of instruction, you will create a concept map, revise it, perfect it, and submit it to your teacher for publication on the web!
But, what is a concept map? Good question! A concept map is a diagram that has three main elements: concepts, links, and linking phrases. The concepts are the main ideas and they are each written in a circle. These concepts are then linked together by links, or arrows, to show they are connected in your thoughts. The links are labeled with a phrase that "links" the two concepts together. These three parts create a meaningful statement concerning the topic you are mapping. You will need to evaluate the concepts and reflect upon meaningful connections and relationships! Check out this site for a tutorial on constructing your concept map.
For example, you might be studying shapes. You know that the category of quadrilaterals contains squares. So, you circle quadrilaterals and circle squares, draw a line between the two circles, and then link with them with words that define that connection – “contain.” Your teacher will be able to help you with this and there are some examples on the showcase page of this project.
Once you have finished your map, take a look at whether you have displayed your information in the most effective way. Should you put the main concept in the middle of the page or at the top? Is every phrase an accurate connection between the two concepts? Do your concepts reveal all your understanding of the topic, or could you be more specific? Have you tapped into your evaluation of the topic or are you merely stating facts? Remember to consider "how" and "why" concepts are connected. Use the rubric to evaluate your map and determine any needed changes. Reflect on your work, seek peer editing, and revise your map until you have a map that you know explains your topic to your audience! A presentation you can be proud to show the world!
Presentation:
If you have computers in your classroom, your concept map should be created using a content mapping software. Then your teacher will compile the maps from your class and submit them to this site for publication! If there are not multiple computers in your classroom, you will create your concept map on paper, reflect, edit, revise, and then publish your concept map into a concept mapping software. Then, your teacher will compile them and submit them for publication in this project! You will be able to share your maps with students worldwide! So, what are you waiting for? Map those big ideas!
Helpful Links for Concept Mapping:
Use these links to investigate what concept mapping is and how to construct an effective map for your presentation.
Concept Mapping from Wikipedia
Concept Mapping Tutorial - linked above