EME 6403 | Summer 2008 | Team 4

Week 1 | Lesson 1.3

06.29.08

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Week 1 Objectives Lesson 1.1: Familiarize yourself with

project work, timeline, and group members

Lesson 1.2: Prepare to participate in the peer evaluation process

Lesson 1.3: Describe purpose and characteristics of causal maps

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Lesson 1.3 This lesson reviews the basics of causal

maps. You have completed readings about

visual diagrams in order to create your personal theory map.

By reviewing this information, you will be better prepared to participate successfully in upcoming project activities.

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What are causal maps? Causal mapping refers to the use of

directed node and link graphs -- similar to concept maps in some ways -- to represent a set of causal relationships within a system.

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Why use causal maps? Causal mapping is more structured than

concept mapping, in that links can only mean one thing (a causal relation).

This has the advantage of allowing you and your teammates to discuss and develop a shared representation for causality.

During this project, your team will develop a shared theory of CSCL.

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Activity 1.3a: Yes or No? Evaluate the statements below to

determine if this information is eligible for a causal map format.

Many factors contribute to global warming: greenhouse gases, feedbacks, and solar variations. People contribute to these factors in different ways.

What do you think, yes or no?

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Activity 1.3a: Yes This information is eligible for causal

mapping:Many factors contribute to global warming: greenhouse gases, feedbacks, and solar variations. People contribute to these factors in different ways.

Multiple factors are identified as causes of global warming, and relationship strength will vary.

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Activity 1.3b: Yes or No? Evaluate the statement below to

determine if this information is eligible for a causal map format.

There are many varieties of apples: golden delicious, granny smith, red delicious, green sweet, etc.

What do you think, yes or no?

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Activity 1.3b: No As presented, this information is not

eligible for causal mapping:There are many varieties of apples: golden delicious, granny smith, red delicious, green sweet, etc.

There is no description of cause and effect relationships.

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Causal Map Characteristics To review, what makes a quality causal map?

Provides precise explanation of the chain of causal events

Organized logically and temporally (left to right) Explains strength of causal links between factors States whether each listed factor has or has no

influence Identifies how factors are inter-related to explain

causal chain of events

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Activity 1.3c: Rank Causal Maps Optional: Evaluate and rank maps Deadline: Sunday, 11:59pm, EDT

1. View and evaluate six causal maps. Consider the strengths and weaknesses for each map.

2. Rank the six causal maps from strongest (1) to weakest (6) and document your ranked list.

3. Review instructor ranking and compare the results to your list!

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Causal Mapping and jMAP During this project, you will continue to

use jMAP to examine and critique others' personal theory maps.

Your team will discuss what factors should be included and how different factor chain should be represented.

Finally, your team will use jMAP create the shared group theory.

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Lesson 1.3 Wrap-up In this lesson you reviewed the purpose

and characteristics of causal maps. In Week 2, you and your teammates will

begin to develop a group theory of CSCL!