Mapping Biology Knowledge (Science & Technology Education Library Volume 11) (Contemporary Trends and Issues in Science Education) [Hardcover]

K. Fisher (Author), J.H. Wandersee (Author), D.E. Moody (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0792365755 | ISBN-13: 978-0792365754 | Edition: 1

Mapping Biology Knowledge addresses two key topics in the context of biology, promoting meaningful learning and knowledge mapping as a strategy for achieving this goal. Meaning-making and meaning-building are examined from multiple perspectives throughout the book. In many biology courses, students become so mired in detail that they fail to grasp the big picture. Various strategies are proposed for helping instructors focus on the big picture, using the `need to know' principle to decide the level of detail students must have in a given situation. The metacognitive tools described here serve as support systems for the mind, creating an arena in which learners can operate on ideas. They include concept maps, cluster maps, webs, semantic networks, and conceptual graphs. These tools, compared and contrasted in this book, are also useful for building and assessing students' content and cognitive skills. The expanding role of computers in mapping biology knowledge is also explored.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792365755
• ISBN-13: 978-0792365754
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,782,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book ... suitable for the corporate world!, March 26, 2001

By 

Lee Say Keng "KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURER/TECHNOLOGY... (Ho Chi Minh City/Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mapping Biology Knowledge (Science & Technology Education Library Volume 11) (Contemporary Trends and Issues in Science Education) (Hardcover)

This is a really wonderful book. I bought this book strictly because I was fascinated by the work of one of the authors, Dr James Wandersee, even though biology is not my cup of tea. By chance, I "strayed" into his web-site, aptly called The 15 Degree Laboratory, while surfing the internet one day. (If you are curious to find out more, go to his web-site.) When I learnt, also by chance, that he had co-authored a book, I ordered it immediately from Amazon.com. Wow! What a great book!

As a strategic explorer of knowledge and a very active practitioner in visual tools, I am always looking for other and better ways (or learning tools to be more precise) to build understanding, simplify complexity, map ideas and construct knowledge.

Out of the book's table of contents, the following chapters (out of ten) attracted me the most at first glance:

Chapter 1: overview of knowledge mapping; Chapter 5: meaningful and mindful learning; Chapter 7: using concept !circle diagramming as a knowledge mapping tool; Chapter 8: using concept mapping as a knowledge mapping tool; (the rest pertains to biology stuff)

and I must say, I have learnt a lot from the authors.

The above first two chapters give an excellent foundation to the book, and also examine the issue of meaning-making and meaning-building (the starting point of learning and understanding anything) from multiple perspectives. Kudos to the authors!

The authors have very masterfully spin together an excellent exposition on knowledge mapping, with the proposition and application of two powerful visual tools, among many others in the book. I have deliberately picked these two tools because of my own personal and professional interests.

One is concept circle diagramming, which to me is a terrific enhancement of the innocuous Venn Diagram (or its predecessor, the Euler Circle, if you are familiar with mathematics).

The other is concept mapping, origi!nally made famous by Dr Joseph Novak, who wrote two excellent books on it - 'Learning How to Learn' and 'Learning, Creating & Using Knowledge.'

Surprisingly, as academics, the authors write pretty well - crisp, succinct, and most of all, not boring.

Although the authors have expounded them in the context of biology i.e. in the educational setting, I personally feel that the visual tools as propounded are very relevant to the corporate world. This is because, in understanding and simplifying complexity in a knowledge-based economy, the visual tools can serve as a powerful support system for the mind, create an arena in which we can make our knowledge explicit, reflect on its organisation and polish its edges. They are also useful for building and assessing our content and cognitive skills.

I wish I have learnt these tools while I was in school or college. Learning would have been fun! And, life through the years would have been easier.

For some reade!rs who think mind-mapping as created by Tony Buzan is great stuff, wait till you read this book and use the tools. If you are already familiar with mind-mapping, I would strongly recommend you to learn these visual tools, as a valuable supplement of your skill repertoire.

It is my fervent hope that the authors of this book would sit down one day to re-write the book for the corporate world. - without the biology stuff, of course. That would be really great!!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mapping Biology Knowledge........An Important Contribution, February 15, 2001

By 

Joel J. Mintzes (Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC 28403) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mapping Biology Knowledge (Science & Technology Education Library Volume 11) (Contemporary Trends and Issues in Science Education) (Hardcover)

Kathleen Fisher, Jim Wandersee and David Moody have put together a very important contribution to our knowledge about knowledge in biology. Their book summarizes some of the most significant work of the past 25 years in science education and cognitive science; work that promises substantial improvement in science teaching and learning at all levels, K-16.

Mapping Biology Knowledge, as the name suggests, focuses on the use of graphic organizers and metacognitive tools. The book combines theory, research and practical advice for teachers, curriculum designers, and others who have a commitment to reform in science education. In so doing, the authors direct our attention toward the most important theme of the reform effort....the need to encourage meaningful learning and conceptual understanding.

Among the tools and techniques they recommend are: SemNet software, concept maps and concept circles. The authors provide step-by-step directions for implementing these tools in classrooms, multiple examples of ways they can be useful, and insightful suggestions for teachers, students and others.

For those interested in research on cognition and learning in biology, this book provides some of the essential "tools of the trade." Graduate students and faculty who are looking for advice will find some of the wisest, most thoughtful and generative ideas anywhere. I recommend this book heartily!