The use of concept mapping in learning science subjects by Arab students

Abstract

Summary The study was designed to assess the effectiveness of use of the concept mapping technique in the learning of science subjects by Arab students in a preparatory school second grade, located in the Gaza Strip. Concept mapping is a schematic device for representing a set of concept meanings embedded in a framework of propositions. The subjects of this study were randomly assigned to the two regularly scheduled classes, and each class was assigned to either experimental or control conditions. In the control class, the teaching approach was primarily teacher orientated, that is the teacher used the lecturing method in sequencing the instructional activities. In the case of the experimental class, the concept mapping approach added the generation of propositional relationships among concepts on maps, using the same content material. The results of this study indicated that the experimental class subjects achieved better than those of the control class.