Concept mapping is an adaptation of graphic organizers, applied to complex college level readings, lectures, discussions, and other course content materials. I use concept mapping to help students target critical information from source materials, and place multiple sources into conversation with each other. In my higher level course, I design the mapping assignments to support course papers.
In keeping with the multiple intelligence potentials in concept mapping, I accept that some students are much less visual and work best with lists or paragraphs. I have included a variety of mapping modalities.
Concept maps also have the advantage of delightful and fairly rapid grading: I can quickly identify individual and group gaps in major concepts that I can then correct in feedback or class session.
These following links will take you pages where you can read the mapping prompts and see some examples.