Ideation
Concept map template
A topic broken into connected ideas, for planning content, research or a talk.
What it is
A concept map breaks one topic into connected ideas, starting from the centre. Where an outline only nests ideas, a concept map can also link ideas on different branches to show how they depend on each other. It works for planning a talk, an article or a research project, and for students mapping what they learned.
When to use it
- When you plan a talk, a course or a long article
- To map a research area before you start reading
- For students who want to summarise a topic before an exam
How to run it
- 01
Put the topic in the centre
Write it as a short phrase, like "Talk: remote onboarding".
- 02
Add the main concepts
Add three to six branches for the big parts, then the smaller ideas off each one.
- 03
Draw cross-links
Connect ideas on different branches that depend on each other. Those links are what make it a concept map.
- 04
Turn it into an outline
Read the branches in order. That order is often a good structure for the talk or the article.
Opens a new board from this prompt:
"Concept map for a 20-minute talk about how small teams can run good code reviews"
Related templates
All templatesIdeation
Mind map
A central topic with branches and sub-ideas, laid out left and right for reading.
Teaching
KWL chart
What students know, want to know and learned about a topic, before and after a unit.
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