Remix · Concept Map

Concept Map

Map concepts visually to make new meaning.

Concept maps are graphical tools that designers, engineers, and others professionals use to help them organize complex information in ways that produce new knowledge, or new ways of seeing that information. Concept maps often use geometric shapes and lines with labels to indicate causation or correlation. In this project, you will create a concept map on a topic that you want to understand better. You’ll polish your concept map for clarity and share your new understanding with others online.

Lucidchart

Heuristic
Map
Technical Communication

Learning Goals

After you finish this activity you will be able to:

Identify, group, and map concepts related to a main topic
Use software to produce a professional quality version of the map
Share the map with others online

Assignment Rubric

Instructions

Follow these steps to complete the project.

To track your progress, click each step as you finish.

Get inspired

An excellent first step in creating any media work is to examine exemplary works of the same type. Make a list for yourself of what makes these examples strong and inspiring.

Don't skip this step!

1	Get inspired by visiting the links in the Get Inspired box.
2	Read or watch George Ella Lyon's ‘Where I'm From’ poem.

Tame your tools

By growing your skills in the tools used in any project, you save yourself time and produce stronger work.

3	Peruse any or all of the tutorials in the Tame Your Tools box.

Create a folder to store project resources

When beginning a new media project, it's best to organize your resources in a single location.

4	Create a folder on your Desktop named something memorable, such as my-media-project. In this folder you'll organize all your resources for this project.

Alternate File Storage
You may also organize your documents in cloud storage, such as Box or Google Drive.

Establish Your central problem or concept

The process of creating a concept maps typically requires visually reorganizing your information several times.

Sticky note pads and pens
A whiteboard, with dry-erase markers and eraser

5	Start with a question that clearly specifies a problem, issue, or concept and write this centrally on the whiteboard. Create a 'parking' lot area to the right of the board. There you will place the elements of your map as you brainstorm.

Brainstorm to create the elements of your map

Now that you have established a central concept you wish to explore, question you wish to answer, or problem you wish to solve, you will brainstorm related concepts, answers, or solutions, respectively.