Concept Map Reflection

I thoroughly enjoyed the concept map assignment that was completed in IT 365. I have always learned best with visual aids and can see how this method would be extremely beneficial in an elementary classroom setting. The software give you the tools needed to make a visually stimulating presentation with ease. Elementary age students tend to respond well to bright, colorful, presentations. The visual representations would grab the student's attention from the beginning and would make them want to learn about the topic being taught. I would use concept maps to illustrate certain processes or categorize different things for my students. I think using concept maps would be especially useful while teaching science and other process based activities. So many different processes and experiments could be taught, documented, and displayed in a way that is more exciting to children compared to completing the standard worksheets that I remember from when I was in elementary school. I believe the students would also enjoy making their own concept maps. The students could create a map to organize ideas or they could use the it as a means of presentation. The students would also be able to share their concept maps with their parents and can teach their parents the lesson with the information that is presented on the map. 

ITSE Standards:

1.Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

• a.     Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
• c.     Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

2.Design and develop digital age learning experiences and asessments

• a.     Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to            promote student learning and creativity
• b.    Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

3. Model digital age work and learning

• d.    Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning