Concept Maps in Engineering Design

HISTORY OF CONCEPT MAPS

David Ausubel
Ausubel was the first to make a real attempt at finding a way to display information so
that it was easy to learn from. This technique would also be used to organize ones
thoughts on paper in a quick and easy manner
In Ausubels subsumption theory, he contended that "the most important single factor
influencing learning is what the learner already knows." (Ausubel, 1968) A primary
process in learning is subsumption in which new material is related to relevant ideas in
the existing cognitive structures. A major instructional mode proposed by Ausubel is the
use of advance organizers. He emphasizes that advance organizers are different from
overviews and summaries, which simply emphasize key ideas and details in an arbitrary
manner. Organizers act as a "subsuming bridge" (Ausubel, 1963) between new learning
material and existing related ideas.
Joseph D. Novak
Professor Joseph D. Novak expanded upon Ausubel theories. Novak came to the
conclusion that
"Meaningful learning involves the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into
existing cognitive structures".
Novak formalised Ausubel theories into the modern concept map structure made up of
central nodes (concepts) and links (linking phrases or comments)
Tony Buzan
Over in the UK Tony Buzan was working on his own version of concept mapping which
he called Mind Mapping. Mind maps have a structure closer to the spider diagrams or
brain storming diagrams. As with concept maps a central concept is the starting point.
From there several related ideas are attached to the main concept. The ideas then branch
of into more ideas and so on. See Figure 1
A disadvantage with this technique is that there is no connecting node between the main
ideas, which would be useful in engineering applications. MINDJET is an example of a
program that uses the Tony Buzan approach. (This program was recommended to me,
downloaded a copy a had a play around with it not really suitable due to no cross linking
between concepts)

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Figure 1: Example illustrating a Mind Map structure.

Graphic was created using Mindjet, a mind mapping tool

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Web Sites Visited and Papers Read

Sites and Papers

Summary

http://ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/articles/concept
Maps/CM.html

http://prod.library.utoronto.ca:951/cgibin/sciserv.pl?
collection=journals&journal=07475632&is
sue=v15i0001&article=11_tioldoohcacs&f
orm=pdf&file=file.pdf
http://prod.library.utoronto.ca:951/cgibin/sciserv.pl?
collection=journals&journal=00223239&is
sue=v105i0001&article=213_qpefoeacp&f
orm=pdf&file=file.pdf
http://prod.library.utoronto.ca:951/cgibin/sciserv.pl?
collection=journals&journal=03043975&is
sue=v246i12&article=151_lsdcesa&form=pdf&file=fil
e.pdf
http://prod.library.utoronto.ca:951/cgibin/sciserv.pl?
collection=journals&journal=03043975&is
sue=v246i12&article=151_lsdcesa&form=pdf&file=fil
e.pdf
http://prod.library.utoronto.ca:951/cgibin/sciserv.pl?
collection=journals&journal=01497189&is
sue=v23i0001&article=67_cmimhuaa&for
m=pdf&file=file.pdf
http://users.edte.utwente.nl/lunzig/cm.home A brief history on the development of
.htm
concept maps, notes on how to construct
them and links to downloadable c map
tools.
http://web.csurchico.edu/~ah24/ausubel.ht
m

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

http://www.coe.missouri.edu/~vlib/mathew
w.html

http://www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~robertof/cour
ses/609.05/

Project title: Designing a C Mapping

System User Interface. Detailed project
notes on how to construct a c map tool.

http://www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~robertof/cour
ses/609.05/]

Paper on designing concept map user

interface

http://www.graphic.org/concept.html

A description of how to construct c maps,

how to best use a c map and links to other
sites with on c maps many of which are
listed here.

http://www.mindmodel.com/?source=goto

http://www.modelica.org

http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/digram
.asp?id=2387

http:/www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~krener/dissert
ation/chl.html

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Improving Upon the Basic

Concept Map design
This is a basic concept map on heat transfer. All nodes are connected with a single stage linking phrase.

Figure 2: Concept Map Created Using IHMC Cmap Tool

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

With this the concept map in Figure 3 colour has been used for the first time to show
different concept paths. This concept maps also shows how two stage linking phrases can
be used. The first phrase on each arc can also act as a sub node/concept as shown in
Figure 4 below.

Figure 3: Modified using a two stage link

Figure 4: Concept coming of first stage of link

6

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Colour can also be used to differentiate between different types of arcs/links. In addition
to colour symbols other than arrows can be attached to the end of arcs/links which will
again show a different type of link. Therefore with only 3 colours and 4 symbols 24
different links can be created; that is only if a connecting symbol can be placed at the
beginning or end of an arc. If 2 symbols are used then the number goes up to 48 different
links.
The next stage is to decide what each symbol should represent to suit engineering
applications.

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Boolean Symbols
The next stage is to decide on what symbols are appropriate for engineering. A good
place to start is Boolean algebra and the symbols used there.
There are three main Boolean expressions are; AND, OR and NOT. The symbols used
in electronic logic and pure maths are:
LOGIC SYMBOLS

MATHS SYMBOLS

AND

OR

NOT

These symbols are not suitable for use on a concept map so instead this alternative set of
symbols can be used.
AND

OR

NOT

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading

Concept Maps in Engineering Design

Figure 5: Concept Map shows how Boolean symbols can be used

The Concept Map shown in Figure 5 has the new Boolean symbols included. It can be
read as follows:
An atom consists of protons, neutrons and electrons
An atom can have either a positive, negative or neutral charge on it

Bobby Finch 2001 Undergraduate at

The University of Reading