Response to "What a Concept!"

Royer and Royer's article "What a Concept!" was quite intriguing. I was unaware of the idea of handheld computers for use in the classroom and I really like it. They would be a wonderful tool for getting students engaged in the lesson and understanding the concept being addressed.

I have used concept maps with just pencil and paper. Like the article, I have found them to be a great tool for determining students background knowledge about a subject as a formative assessment. They are also useful for summative assessments as well because students can classify information and provide examples. I also think they provide differentiated assessing since they are open-ended and students can add various amounts of information.

Concept maps work great in all subjects. They can be used to provide character analysis, determine characteristics of a state or region in social studies, or determine the biotic and abiotic elements of an ecosystem. Since they have subconcepts attached, students can provide specific examples in order to support there thoughts and ideas.

I have a couple of students with fine motor skills and concept mapping would be a great tool for them. Neither one of them enjoy writing because it is so laborious for them, so using the computer to share their thoughts would be well-received. It would also provide easier to read study guides than their notes.

By teaching the students in elementary school how to create concept maps, they could continue to develop this skill as they continue their education. They could return to their original maps and add more information about a topic or additional examples they encounter. I am definitely interested in learning more about using computer-based concept-mapping in my classroom instruction. My brain is already busy trying to determine ways to incorporate it into each subject.