Designers of concept maps represent ideas through use of words, symbols or even photos. Typically, concept maps are quickly sketched on pads of notebook paper, and are referred to only by their authors. However, sophisticated concept maps are also sometimes designed and shared over the Internet, with the aid of concept mapping software. In such cases, words, symbols or photos used in such maps may be undergo greater scrutiny before being included by an author, due to the fact that other people will be expected to understand their meaning and significance.
Concept mapping facilitates the process of developing connections between a range of ideas. With the use of bubbles of varying sizes, differing shapes, colors and arrows, a concept map's author is able to use visual tools to emphasize relationships between data.
For many of us, "the subject matter of most disciplines, and especially science, mathematics, and history, is a cacophony of information to memorize," according to Joseph D. Novak and Alberto J. Cañas, Senior Research Scientists at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition. Concept maps are handy instruments, which provide people with a means to simplify complex information. While concept maps may sometimes appear disorganized and complex, their essential purpose is to facilitate an author's ability to observe meaningful arrangements between an array of information.