GENERATE -SORTCONNECTELABORATE:

CONCEPT MAPS
Instructional Strategy
Education 450
Andres Flores

Do now
Pull out a piece of paper and write everything that
you think is important about the following subject,
be prepared to share and show your thinking:
What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Purpose
It can be hard for students to organize and effectively sort
their thoughts
Concept mapping is a way that students can attempt to
show thinking
Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate concept maps are best
practice
Can be done in a variety of ways both in groups and as
individuals

Generate
A list of ideas and initial thoughts that come to mind when you think
about this topic or issue.
In a parking lot of words
On a poster
On index cards
On sticky notes

Sort
Sort your ideas to how central or tangential they are. Place central
ideas near the center and more tangential ideas towards the outside.
Easy to do if written on separate pieces of paper.

Connect
Connect your ideas by drawing lines between the ideas that have
something in common. Explain and write on that line how the ideas
are connected.
Allows for an opportunity to determine relationships

Elaborate
On any of the ideas or thoughts you have written so far by adding
new ideas that expand, extend, or add on.
Students can adjust and discuss their map

GSCE-Example
What is successful art?
Concep
t
Meaning

Have to
consider art
conversatio
n

Historical
context

Lay
Gen
er s
,
cra
ft, m atten erate
tion
con
e
a
n
c
use ept, e ing, c to form
,
u
x
con cohes perim ltural , effe
ct
tex
a
ive
e
t
ele ntatio waren ive
me
nts n, ma ess,
t
, hi
sto erial
rica
l

It all works
together

Careful

Cohesive elements

Attention to form

Cultural awareness

Effective craft

Craftsmanship

Experimentati
on
Understanding
Material use

Risk

elements

Layers

Your Turn
In groups of two work on one piece of paper to create a GenerateSort-Connect-Elaborate concept map about the following
What are the qualities of a good teacher?
Be

prepared to share.
Generate-parking lot of terms
Sort-creates a hierarchy from the center
Connect-draws lines and explains relationships
Elaborate-explain further if needed

How does it apply to your content

area? When are some appropriate

times to use this in the classroom?