Concept Mapping

(A concept mapping template used for goal setting).










The use of concept mapping is an important aspect of displaying information in a visual form. I feel that using concept maps in my health class will further help students with understanding specific concepts discussed in class.

One idea, is using a concept map to explain the global transformation of viruses (such as HIV). Through image mapping, it could cover the history, significance, and reasons for the virus spreading.

Another idea I have is using goal setting through concept maps. This would be useful in the physical education setting, having students set goals for their physical fitness tests along with dates that they want to achieve the specific benchmark. Another idea encompassing physical fitness is through the use of concept maps is explaining the history of a sport. For instance, a brief history of baseball in America could be covered through visual images in concept mapping.

I think that the impact of concept mapping in my classroom will be able to support student learning. At a first glance, I felt that concept mapping may not be very useful, but I realized that much of p.e. and fitness involves goal-setting. Mapping out certain students' individual goals along with classroom goals, will provide the students with a sense of self-efficacy and self-reliance for the specific activity or assessments. I think it would be useful to for students to work on their personal goals rather than ranking the class individually.

I would have to decide whether or not concept mapping is useful for a specific lesson. In teaching a health classroom, I could find many more ways to integrate concept mapping. If the lesson touches on an environmental or worldwide issue, I think concept mapping would be of great use. For the p.e. setting again, goal setting for assessments would work well, but other than a covering a brief history of a sport, I don't think concept mapping would be of much more use.