Lee Yong Jin (Center for Teaching and Learning) gave an hour-long lecture on concept maps. At Woodang Hall from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. on September 26, 40 students listened avidly as Professor Lee explained the importance of concept maps, how they should be drawn, and how they could be put to use.

Simply put, concept maps are what people may know better as mind maps. They represent the relationships among interrelated concepts and ideas. Such concept maps aid genuine learning as they are a tangible way to lay out how a person’s mind organizes a particular topic. Though the process of drawing a concept map, a person can reflect on what he or she knows and does not know. Moreover, the dual coding used while drawing concept maps increases chances for better long-term memory than when simply reading a text. In this light, the actual process of drawing out a concept map can be considered more valuable than the final result of the concept map itself.

Concept maps can be used with great versatility. They can serve as a tool for individual brain storming, tracking down critical concepts or relationships, or organizing ideas during team projects. And they are anything but difficult to produce, what with free programs such as CmapTools to help the extremely lazy from manually drawing concept maps. So when in need of sorting out a convoluted idea, try drawing a concept map. The process will surely bring about true learning.