Take another look with Concept Maps...
Concept mapping is a technique that has been used widely in the classroom for years. Many times in my classroom, the class and I will build a concept map as we introduce new topics and then build upon it over time. As I write this reflection, I find that there is a fault in this methodology. If I draw the concept map with student's ideas there is a mismatch of how concept mapping help students actually evaluate their thinking. A new way must be created to do prior knowledge using a concept map. Using concept maps to present understanding of concepts after the fact is fairly straightforward. And in fact, the models that is mapped above works clearly in this manner. The place that I believe, I should be reforming my own practice in the classroom, is how to utilize mapping prior knowledge in a student centered manner... As is the nature of teaching and critical thinking, we must re-evaluate our methodology to serve students and their mastery of learning. If I can change the way I use concept maps to engage prior thinking in the classroom, I may actually get students to build upon their understanding in a more invested way.