GTAQ Conference 2011: Conceptual Diagrams

Hi there. I had the wonderful pleasure of presenting a session at the recent Geography Teachers’ Association of Queensland 2011 conference on the use of conceptual diagrams in the classroom. The resource that I showcased was one developed with the Department of Environment and Resource Management in Queensland that contains links to the Australian Curriculum. You will find the resource on DERM’s website soon, however you can access a draft copy by clicking here.

For those who don’t know conceptual diagrams are a communication tool that can give you and your students a comprehensive overview of an ecosystem (or any geographical concept really) using a primarily visual medium. Conceptual diagrams are meant to be visually simple but they should communicate a great deal of information such as the features in the system as well as processes that are in action. The University of Maryland’s Integration and Application Network have done some great work in this field and I have summarised some of their resources here:

Click here for some general information on conceptual diagrams and the features they should contain

Click here for some examples of conceptual diagrams (scroll down a touch)

Click here for a link to IAN’s image library (free registration required)

Click here for a link to IAN’s online conceptual diagram tool (free registration required).

If you missed out on GTAQ 2011, make sure you get in early for GTAQ 2012 – the event sold out this year!!