MAPPING

MAPPING USED IN NOTE TAKING

WHAT IS MAPPING ?

Mapping is a form of note taking that

uses graphic organizers and diagrams

to organize information. It is also

known mind mapping, concept

mapping, spray diagrams, and spider

diagrams

WHY USE IT?

Mapping is an active learning strategy

that moves you beyond rote

memorization to critical thinking.

Mapping helps you to learn about how

you learn.

CONT.

It provides an explicit, encapsulated

representation of important ideas on one page

which is great for review.

Mapping promotes a richer construction of

knowledge because you must organize, select,

relate and interpret data.

CONT.

Mapping requires that you break down

component parts to see how things are put

together.

WHY IS MAPPING IMPORTANT? It is useful for those who learn best with visuals,

and those who like to organize information

neatly.

It creates a great visual that can be later used

as a study guide.

CONT.

It can foster easy collection of

information,when combining notes from

both lectures and text book readings.

this is very useful when studying and

further clarification is needed –

individuals will know where to look

CONT.

It is also effective when brainstorming and

organizing for a paper.

It helps you to see gaps in knowledge and

areas of oversimplification, contradiction or

misinterpretation

WHAT CAN IT BE USED FOR?

Reviewing for exams.

Conceptualizing processes, systems and

relationships.

Brainstorming, organizing concepts and

principles.

CONT.

Identifying mistakes and areas of confusion.

Assessing prior knowledge, generating

questions and answers from a reading or

writing assignment, and organizing

arguments.

CONT.

Anyone! Concept mapping is an

effective learning tool across disciplines

and year levels.

Concept maps can be done

independently or collaboratively.

Who can use it?

WHO CAN USE IT?

Anyone! Concept mapping is an

effective learning tool across disciplines

and year levels.

Concept maps can be done

independently or collaboratively.

STEPS IN MAPPING Start with identifying the main topic. This

should be at either the top or center of your diagram.

Place information on a map — working from the core concept, to major points, to significant details.

Continue downward or outward with supporting

details until you have identified all relevant information.

CONT. Use branches, arrows, and other symbols like

stop signs or yield signs to indicate the nature of the relationships between ideas.

Use different colours, fonts or lines to group and distinguish concepts.

Include detailed explanations, definitions, rules, formulae or equations

CONT.

Analyze the resulting map by asking the

following questions:

Is the core concept accurately defined and

positioned?

How do the ideas fit together?

Have I considered all of the related information

gathered from lectures, texts, labs?

CONT.

Have I noted all relevant relationships,

exceptions, and conditions?

Does the map have adequate validity, logic,

complexity and detail?

What is the muddiest point and what can be

done to clarify it?

EXAMPLE OF A MAPPING STEP

Main Topic

Sub topic

1Sub topic

2

Sub topic

3

SupportingDetail

SupportingDetail

Taken from lecture Taken from text book reading

EXAMPLES OF A MAPPING

DIAGRAMS

HIERARCHY CHART DEPICTING A SCHOOL STRUCTURE

Principal

Social Studies Teacher

Math Teacher

English Teacher

Vice Principal

CYCLE DIAGRAM SHOWING THE HUMAN LIFE CYCLE

PICTURES

PICTURE SHOWING A LABELED GLOBE Continent of Africa

Equator

Latitude

Longitude

ALPHABETS AND THERE FRUITS

APPLE

A

BANANA

B

CHERRY

C

SIGNS SHOWN IN A DRIVING BOOK

REFERENCE Stewart, P. (2007). Notetaking Systems.

Retrieved July 15, 2008, from Cal Poly Academic Skills Center. Website:http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html