Study methods: how to make a concept map

Studying represents one of the major activities in a student’s life, and the choice of study method can have a significant impact on learning success. Identifying what works best for oneself is essential in many ways, especially in maximizing comprehension and memorization of information. In addition, the effectiveness of the study method can be increased with the use of tools and ad hoc techniques. 

A concept map can be a useful means of organizing and visualizing ideas and information in a clear and logical way. It is one of the most effective means because it allows concepts to be linked in a way that is easy to memorize and understand. 

These are especially useful for students who have difficulty visualizing relationships between ideas or who need an overview to collect and organize concepts. They are also a useful tool for anyone who prefers a visual learning style and who find it easier to learn through pictures and diagrams. 

In this article, we will explore the steps needed to make a concept map.

Identify the central theme

The first step to creating a concept map is to identify the main concept or central theme of the topic you want to study. For example, if you are studying art history, the main theme might be “art movements.” After identifying this, you can create a series of branches representing related parts of the main theme. Going back to the art history example, the branches could represent movements such as the Renaissance, Baroque, and Impressionism. Each of them should then be connected by a line, representing the relationship between the main concept and the related ones.

Add details to related ideas

Once the main parts have been created, further details can be added to the related ideas. This can be done through the inclusion of additional branches or sub-branches, or by adding keywords or phrases that help further clarify the concepts. For example, under the Renaissance part you can add a sub-branch for Italian art and another for Dutch art. Each of these can be further detailed with examples of specific works of art or representative artists. In this way, the concept map becomes a kind of “tree” of ideas.

Use the map to improve your study method

This is a great study tool! First and foremost, it helps to review and memorize information. Returning to our example, the one on Renaissance art, can be used to recall the main artists, works and characteristics of the period. Second, it allows making connections between related concepts. For example, it could help identify similarities and differences between different art movements. Third, it can be very useful for making comparisons and relationships, such as identifying how a particular art movement influenced another.

Conclusion

Making a concept map may seem like a complicated process, but it is actually very simple and intuitive, a useful tool for organizing ideas and information clearly and logically. The key to making it an effective one is to identify the main theme, create branches that represent related ideas, and add additional details. 

With practice, creating these study tools becomes increasingly easy and essential for understanding complex concepts and thus for best passing exams.

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