Creating a concept map is a powerful way to visually organize and represent information, helping you understand complex ideas and their interrelationships. By connecting concepts through meaningful relationships, concept maps allow you to visualize patterns, identify gaps in knowledge, and enhance memory retention.
This guide is designed to walk you through the essentials of how to create a concept map. From understanding the key characteristics of concept maps to exploring the best practices, you’ll learn how to draw and design maps that are clear, engaging, and effective. Plus, you’ll find templates you can use immediately to streamline your process.
What Is a Concept Map?
A concept map is a graphical tool used to visualize meaningful relationships between concepts. It serves as a knowledge representation tool, helping to structure and organize information in a way that mirrors how the human mind processes knowledge.
At its core, a concept map consists of two key elements:
- Concepts - Represented as nodes or boxes that define key ideas.
- Relationships - Shown through linking lines or arrows with phrases that describe how concepts are connected
Concept maps can range from simple diagrams to complex structures, making them valuable for organizing knowledge, problem-solving, and strategic planning.
The 7 Key Characteristics of a Concept Map
Not all diagrams with labeled nodes qualify as concept maps. What sets a concept map apart is its structured approach to knowledge representation, which helps visually organize relationships between concepts. Below are the essential characteristics that define a concept map design:
1. Nodes (Concepts)
Nodes are the building blocks of a concept map, represented by circles or boxes containing key ideas. Their size may vary based on hierarchy—for example, broader concepts appear larger at the top, while more specific subtopics branch out below.
2. Cross-Links
A concept map in education, business, or research often involves multiple domains of knowledge. Cross-links connect different sections of the map, showing relationships between ideas that might not be directly connected within the same hierarchy.
3. Linking Words or Phrases
Concept maps use linking words or phrases to clarify relationships between concepts. These labels—such as “leads to,” “causes,” or “is a type of”—appear on the lines connecting nodes, forming meaningful propositions that enhance comprehension.
4. Hierarchical Structure
Concept maps are typically structured in a hierarchy, where the most general concepts are positioned at the top, followed by more specific details. A hierarchical concept map design is usually read from top to bottom. However, some concept maps follow a free-form structure, starting from the center and expanding outward.
5. Propositional Structure
Every concept map conveys propositions—statements that express meaningful relationships between two or more concepts. For example, if the concepts “Relationships” and “Connectors and linking words” are connected by “Are represented by”, the resulting proposition is:
🡆 “Relationships are represented by connectors and linking words."
This structured approach makes concept maps an effective knowledge visualization tool.
6. Focus Question
A well-defined focus question drives the structure of a concept map. This question represents the main problem or idea that the map seeks to explore. The more precise the focus question, the more insightful the concept map will be.
7. Theoretical Foundation
Concept maps are based on Ausubel’s Assimilation Theory, which suggests that new knowledge is best learned by connecting it to existing knowledge. This theory underscores the educational value of concept maps in enhancing learning, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
By understanding these characteristics, you can create clear, effective concept maps that improve knowledge organization, decision-making, and communication across various fields.
How to Make a Concept Map: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating a concept map is a fantastic way to organize your thoughts, visualize relationships between ideas, and tackle complex topics. Whether you’re working on a project, studying, or simply brainstorming, this section will walk you through each step to help you draw a clear and effective concept map. You can create your map either on paper or by using a concept map maker for a more polished, professional look.
Step 1: Define Your Central Topic
The first step in drawing a concept map is to choose your central topic. This could be an idea, question, or concept that you want to explore. Make sure the topic is specific enough to allow for detailed exploration.
For example, if you’re focusing on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), your central topic will be SEO itself. Starting with a clear focus question (e.g., “How does SEO improve website ranking?”) helps guide the direction of your concept map.
Step 2: Brainstorm and List Key Concepts
Next, start brainstorming related ideas, concepts, facts, and questions that come to mind when you think about your topic. Write down everything that seems relevant, keeping your ideas as concise as possible.
For example, with SEO as your central topic, you might list concepts such as keywords, backlinks, search algorithms, and content strategy. This step helps gather all the important pieces of information you will use to build your map.
Step 3: Organize and Group Related Ideas
Once you have your list of ideas, it’s time to organize them into categories or groups. Look for patterns or connections between concepts and group them together. This step will help you structure your map logically and identify the relationships between different concepts.
For instance, under SEO, you might group ideas like keywords and content strategy together, while backlinks and search engine algorithms may belong in another group.
Step 4: Start Drawing the Map
Now, it’s time to start drawing your concept map. Begin with your central topic in the middle (or at the top if you’re using a hierarchical structure). To make the central topic stand out, you can use a larger node or a different color.
If you’re using a hierarchical structure, the most general concepts should be placed at the top, with more specific ideas branching downward. Alternatively, a radial structure starts in the center and spreads outward. The structure you choose will depend on your topic and how you prefer to organize your information.
Step 5: Connect Concepts Using Arrows and Linking Words
Once the concepts are placed, it’s time to connect them. Draw lines or arrows between related concepts to show their relationships. Use linking words or phrases (e.g., “causes,” “is a part of,” “improves”) on the lines to define how the concepts are connected. This step is crucial as it helps clarify the relationships between ideas and ensures that your map has meaningful connections.
For example, connecting keywords and content strategy could include a linking phrase like “is part of” to create a proposition: “Keywords are part of content strategy.”
Step 6: Identify Cross-Links
After making the direct connections, it’s time to identify cross-links. These are connections that link ideas from different areas of your concept map. Cross-links are especially useful for showing how concepts from different domains or categories are related to each other.
For instance, you might connect content strategy (from one category) with user experience (from another category) to show how content impacts the user’s website journey.
Cross-links help enrich your concept map by creating a more holistic view of your topic.
Step 7: Review and Refine Your Concept Map
Once you’ve completed your map, it’s time to review and refine it. Check if all the key concepts are included and verify that the relationships between them make sense. Are there any missing ideas? Have you placed everything in a logical order?
This step ensures your concept map is accurate, comprehensive, and easy to understand. You can also simplify or reorganize areas that seem cluttered or unclear.
Step 8: Finalize and Customize Your Map
Finally, once you’ve reviewed your map, you can finalize it by adding finishing touches. If you’re using concept mapping software, customize the colors, fonts, and layout for visual appeal. If you’ve drawn the map by hand, consider using colored pens or markers to make different areas stand out.
This step enhances both the clarity and visual appeal of your concept map, making it more engaging and easier to follow.
Free, Editable Concept Map Templates
Explore a collection of free, editable concept map templates that you can easily customize on Creately. Simply click on the image to open the concept map example in the editor, where you can modify it to suit your specific needs. Once you’ve made your changes, export your map as an image, PNG, PDF, or JPEG for seamless sharing and printing.
Concept Maps for Ideation
These concept map templates are designed to help you brainstorm and generate creative ideas. Perfect for project planning, problem-solving, or product development, they enable you to visualize connections and refine your thoughts quickly.
Concept Maps for Business
Business-focused concept map templates are ideal for mapping out strategies, workflows, and organizational structures. Use them to visualize processes, set clear goals, and improve team collaboration for business growth.
Concept Maps for Nursing
These concept map templates for nursing assist in organizing medical information, patient care plans, and nursing diagnoses. They provide a clear visual structure to track patient progress, treatments, and interdisciplinary team collaboration.
Concept Maps for Education
Concept map templates for education are perfect for students and teachers alike. These templates help organize lessons, explain complex topics, and enhance learning through visual aids, making difficult concepts easier to understand.
Concept Maps for Research
Concept map templates for research help in organizing and structuring ideas, theories, and findings. They are ideal for mapping out research questions, hypotheses, literature reviews, and methodologies, enabling you to visualize relationships and connections within your research topic for a more organized and focused approach.
Discover more concept map templates by exploring our community’s collection of versatile, ready-to-use templates.
Helpful Resources
Explore how concept mapping is a dynamic and visual note-taking method that facilitates a deeper learning experience and enhances the retention of information.
Learn how to use concept maps in science education to organize and structure knowledge effectively to enhance scientific understanding and make complex information more accessible.
Discover ways to enhance classroom lessons and help students study more effectively
Explore how concept mapping in research can simplify the process of visualizing your ideas, enhance your critical thinking, and improve your research outcomes.
Explore some of the premier tools for crafting concept maps online
Top 12 Concept Mapping Tips and Best Practices for Creating Effective Concept Maps
Creating a concept map is an essential technique for organizing ideas, solving problems, and visualizing relationships between concepts. Following these best practices for concept mapping can help you create clearer, more engaging, and meaningful maps.
1. Start with a Clear Central Idea
The central idea is the foundation of any concept map. Choose a clear, concise concept that represents the main theme or topic you wish to explore. The central idea should be easily understood and serve as the focal point for your map. Starting with a well-defined central concept ensures that your map has a clear direction.
2. Stick with the Hierarchical Structure
When creating a concept map, it’s important to organize your ideas in a hierarchical structure. The most general concepts should be placed at the top, with more specific ideas branching below. This top-down approach allows the concept map to be easily read and navigated, helping users understand the relationships between concepts clearly.
3. Keep a Single Root Concept
While it’s possible to have two root concepts, limiting your concept map to one root concept helps maintain focus. A single root concept simplifies the structure and makes it easier for the learner to understand how the different concepts are related. It also avoids confusion that may arise when multiple root concepts are introduced.
4. Use Meaningful Keywords to Label Concepts
Using specific keywords to label your concepts ensures clarity. The labels should be descriptive and accurately represent the content of each node. This is especially important when sharing or presenting your concept map, as meaningful keywords improve both the map’s readability and its ability to communicate the information effectively.
5. Color-Code Your Concept Map
Color coding is an effective technique to distinguish concepts visually within different domains. By applying different colors to various parts of your concept map, you make it more readable and engaging. Additionally, color coding helps with information recall, making it easier to remember key ideas and concepts when you need them most.
6. Add Visual Cues for Better Engagement
Incorporating visual cues such as symbols, icons, or images into your concept map can make it more engaging and visually appealing. These elements highlight important information and add depth to your map, making it easier for the viewer to understand complex relationships between concepts.
7. Ensure Linking Phrases Make Sense
The connections between concepts should be described with meaningful linking phrases. These phrases explain the relationship between two concepts and form a propositional structure. For example, the phrase “is a type of” or “leads to” links two concepts to create a meaningful statement. Be sure that these linking phrases make sense and contribute to the clarity of your map.
8. Be Consistent in Formatting and Design
Consistency in formatting, symbols, and color coding throughout your concept map makes it easier to read and understand. Consistent visual elements also help reinforce the connections between concepts and maintain a cohesive structure across the map.
9. Always Base Your Concept Map on a Focus Question
A clear focus question helps guide the concept mapping process. Having one central question to answer will help you stay on track and organize your ideas effectively. A well-defined focus question ensures that your map remains relevant and aligned with the primary objective.
10. Keep It Simple and Concise
When creating a concept map, avoid overly complex sentences or too much text. Stick to simple phrases or keywords that communicate the main ideas and relationships clearly. The goal is to make the information accessible, so brevity and clarity are key.
11. Link to Further Resources
If you’re creating a concept map using concept mapping software, consider adding links to external resources. These active links can direct users to additional reading materials or references, allowing them to explore the concepts in more detail.
12. Review and Revise Your Concept Map
Concept maps are dynamic tools that can be refined over time. Review your map periodically to ensure that it accurately represents the relationships between concepts and that no important ideas are missing. Revising and updating your map as your understanding evolves ensures that it stays relevant and useful.
Conclusion: Start Creating Your Own Concept Maps Today
Now that you’ve learned the basics of how to create a concept map, you can begin applying these principles to your own work. Whether you’re tackling an academic project, planning a business strategy, or mapping out a research process, concept maps are invaluable tools for making complex ideas more manageable and accessible.
With the tips, tools, and templates provided in this guide, you’re ready to design maps that clearly represent your ideas, enhance your learning, and communicate your thoughts effectively. So, take the first step—start drawing your concept map today and unlock the potential to better organize, analyze, and visualize your knowledge!
FAQs on How to Create a Concept Map
What is the first step in creating a concept map?
Can I create a concept map by hand, or should I use software?
What are linking phrases in a concept map, and why are they important?
How do I organize my concept map effectively?
Can concept maps be used for brainstorming?
Resources:
Conceição, S.C.O., Samuel, A. and Yelich Biniecki, S.M. (2017). Using concept mapping as a tool for conducting research: An analysis of three approaches. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1404753.
Edmondson, K.M. (1995). Concept mapping for the development of medical curricula. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32(7), pp.777–793. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.3660320709.
Tseng, S.-S., Sue, P.-C., Su, J.-M., Weng, J.-F. and Tsai, W.-N. (2007). A new approach for constructing the concept map. Computers & Education, 49(3), pp.691–707. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.11.020.
