Creating and Using a Concept Map to Study Effectively for Exams
1. Create a set of notes
a. Identify the Main Sections and sub sections of the unit of study (from text book chapter, lecture notes)
b. Write these section titles in your notebook
c. Read with a pencil and use or or as you are reading to identify important ideas to include in your notes (if you are not allowed to write in your textbook, then photocopy the relevant chapter and use the photocopy)
d. Write the notes in abbreviated form in your notebook (use bullet point layout)
2. Turn your notes into a Concept Map
a. A3 Landscape Paper
b. Use pencil at first!
c. Draw the Main Title and Main Section Titles into a logical layout, either as a flowchart from left-right; or from the centre radiating outwards
d. Transfer your notes into the Concept Map using a logical structure:
i. Main Idea
1. Definition/s
a. Explanations
i. Examples
ii. Case Studies
iii. Particular instances or problems
* Be Concise: Use Abbrevs
* Use diagram layouts rather than sentences
* Omit unnecessary words
* Paraphrase, Summarise, Change word ordering to be concise
3. Review all your unit notes and chapter reading, to check that your Concept map contains all the ideas and information that could be on the exam
4. Add layers of emphasis to your Concept Map
a. First you wrote all of the information in pencil
b. Next, you will use black pen to bring out key phrases or words that cannot be forgotten
c. After that, begin to draw connections between elements of the topic with blue lines or venn diagrams in blue for comparison
d. Then, use green for correct assumptions, examples or applications, and use red for incorrect assumptions, opposites, antonyms, etc.
e. Finally, you can condense the most critical points into 3-5 key concepts using a highlighter to indicate.
5. Use your Concept Map to Review and Reinforce your Understanding
a. Look-Cover-Check
b. Use peers and teachers to check that you have included the essential elements
Jackson, Lance. Creating and Using a Concept Map to Study Effectively for Exams. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: n.p., 24 Apr. 2015. DOC.