Knowledge map

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Knowledge map is a tool designed for presenting knowledge in more intelligible and easy to memorize way. When learning from standard, typical material consisted only from text is natural to follow the order imposed by author. Students when taking a book have various levels of actual knowledge. For the beginners is good to study it from cover to cover, but advanced persons have to search topics interesting for them. They have in fact table of contents and index, but it allows only to find desired concepts without relational information connecting them. Knowledge map doesn't have such disadvantages. It is a visual representation composed of graphical elements: arrows, lines and other figures filled with text. The map presents nodes, which are connected to each other using relationships. It is proved, that knowledge map makes simpler recalling of knowledge and helps learn more effectively (Lee J., Segev A., 2011, p. 1-2).

Types of knowledge maps

With usage of knowledge maps it was noticed, that different situations and various knowledge demand diversified solutions. Finally, basic three types of them were distinguished (Ermuiza A., 2016, p. 2-6):

  • mind mapping - is useful to show concepts and ideas with emphasis to relation to the central key word. Mind map can be also found under the name spidergram. It have a tree structure and is an excellent brainstorming and decision-making tool. As drawback we can recognize limitation only to simple associations.
  • concept mapping - is often compared with mind mapping. The fundamental difference is that concept map includes multiple connections between various nodes, so - depicting - it does not have structure of a tree.
  • argument mapping - last but not least map has strongly dissimilar assumptions. It was developed to present conclusions between propositions. Arguments are connected with results, what using graphic capabilities of knowledge map allows to have clear view of a whole problem and possible solutions.

Beneficial usage of knowledge maps

Online learning becomes more and more popular. Recently developed conception called open learning lets sharing knowledge through the Internet without any charges. Cloud computing allows to gather data with easy access from all over the world. Self-study nature of this undertaking demands new ways of data presentation. Software helpful to generate knowledge maps already exists, so implementation of them is one of decisions taken. Researchers by means of survey proved, that knowledge maps are useful for students and their presence in online materials is strongly recommended (Fasihuddin H., Skinner G., 2015, p. 20, 24).

Examples of Knowledge map

  • A decision tree is a type of knowledge map used to help people make decisions. It is a graphical representation of a decision-making process and can be used to help people identify the best solution to a problem. The decision tree is composed of nodes, arrows, and labels that represent the options and possible outcomes of a decision. The nodes represent the decision points, the arrows represent the paths to the different outcomes, and the labels represent the options available at each decision point.
  • Mind maps are another type of knowledge map that are used to organize information. Mind maps are composed of a central idea, with related ideas branching out from it. The branches are connected to the central idea by lines and arrows, and the nodes and labels represent the ideas and connections between them. Mind maps are a great tool for visualizing and organizing complex information.
  • Concept maps are another type of knowledge map used to map out relationships between concepts. A concept map is composed of nodes, arrows, and labels that represent the ideas and relationships between them. The nodes represent the concepts, the arrows represent the relationships between them, and the labels represent the details of the relationship. Concept maps can be used to visually represent the structure and relationships between concepts.

Advantages of Knowledge map

Knowledge maps are very useful and effective tools for presenting knowledge. They have many advantages, such as:

  • Increased understanding of the subject: Knowledge maps allow students to understand the subject matter better by providing a visual representation of the knowledge and by connecting related topics together.
  • Improved memory: Knowledge maps serve as visual cues, which can help students to remember information easier and faster.
  • Flexibility: Knowledge maps can be modified and adapted to fit different learning needs and styles.
  • Easier to navigate: Knowledge maps provide an easy way to navigate through different topics and concepts, which makes learning more efficient.
  • Improved problem-solving skills: Knowledge maps help students to identify patterns and relationships between different concepts and topics, which can help them become better problem solvers.

Limitations of Knowledge map

Knowledge map, despite of its numerous advantages, has some limitations. They are:

  • Knowledge maps are limited in the amount of information they can convey. While they can provide a visual representation of complex concepts, they cannot give a complete overview of a subject or topic.
  • Knowledge maps can be difficult to read or understand if they are too complex. If there are too many elements and connections, it can be hard to follow the path from one concept to another.
  • Knowledge maps can be time consuming to create. They require a lot of effort to design and implement, which can be costly and time consuming.
  • Knowledge maps can be difficult to maintain. As knowledge and concepts evolve, the map must be updated to reflect the current state of understanding. This can be a labor-intensive process.
  • Knowledge maps can be difficult to share. If they are too complex, they can be difficult to communicate to an audience or to be shared electronically.

Other approaches related to Knowledge map

In addition to Knowledge map, there are other approaches which can be used to present knowledge in more meaningful way. These are:

  • Concept maps - they involve graphical representation of knowledge, which is based on binary relationships between concepts. They are useful in learning processes, because they allow to understand connections between concepts and their context.
  • Mind maps - they are visual diagrams which are used to represent knowledge in hierarchical way. They are useful in brainstorming, because they allow to create connections between ideas in creative way.
  • Semantic networks - they present knowledge as a network of concepts and relationships between them. They are useful in problem solving, because they help to visualize the desired goal and how to achieve it.

To summarize, Knowledge map is a tool which is used to present knowledge in more intelligible and easy to memorize way. Other approaches which can be used for this purpose are concept maps, mind maps and semantic networks.


Knowledge map — recommended articles
Learning map — Knowledge structure — Creative thinking skills — Design thinking — Model of creativity — Decision tree — Algorithm — Creative thinking techniques — Innovative thinking

References

Author: Maciej Blak

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