Conceptsspiral

Conceptsspiral is a theoretical framework used in knowledge representation and education to describe how ideas develop through iterative layers of interpretation. The term combines concept with spiral to suggest cyclic revision and expansion rather than linear progression. In this model, a core concept is revisited multiple times, each rotation adding context, nuance, and connections to other domains.

The spiral consists of cycles that alternate between abstraction and concretion, integration and differentiation. As learners move outward, they reframe the core idea in light of new evidence, theories, or problems, while retaining core anchors. This yields a multi-layered network of related concepts that can be traced in a non-linear path.

In pedagogy, conceptsspiral informs curriculum design by guiding learning activities that revisit core concepts across subjects. In knowledge management, it aids in tagging, mapping, and evolving ontologies. In design thinking, it supports iterative refinement of user needs and ideas.

Origins and usage: The term has appeared in workshops and some education journals as a descriptive metaphor rather than a formal theory. It is used more as a heuristic than a proven model, and its definitions vary across communities.

Critique: Critics argue that the spiral metaphor can be vague and difficult to measure, and that it may overlap with established nested concept maps and spiral models in software development.

See also: spiral model, concept map, conceptual blending, iterative design.