Concept Mapping In Learning Research Articles

Supporting reflection to improve learning from self-generated concept maps

Creating concept maps is considered to be a powerful means for learning. It requires students to systematically organize and integrate their knowledge, which can foster meaningful learning. However, students scarcely spontaneously engage in the (meta)cognitive processes necessary for effective knowledge integration, such as reflection, which can hamper the effectiveness of concept mapping for learning. This study explores the effect of additional support that stimulates reflection by means of expert examples, reflection prompts, and classroom discussion. First-year technical vocational students (N = 144, Mage = 17.5 years) studied electricity-related topics in an online learning environment and created concept maps about their knowledge. Students’ concept maps were supplemented with either (1) no support (control condition), (2) an expert example (a combined concept map, containing their own and an expert example concept map, with differences highlighted), (3) an expert example and reflection prompts students had to process individually, (4) an expert example and reflection prompts students had to process individually after a teacher-guided classroom discussion. Students in the classroom discussion condition showed higher learning gains compared to all other conditions. This can be explained by the quality of their reflection, which proved to be a significant predictor of learning gain.

The potential contributions of concept maps for learning website to assessment for learning practices

The purpose of this paper is to examine the promising contributions of the Concept Maps for Learning (CMfL) website to assessment for learning practices. The CMfL website generates concept maps from relatedness degree of concepts pairs through the Pathfinder Scaling Algorithm. This website also confirms the established principles of effective assessment for learning, for it is capable of automatically assessing students’ higher order knowledge, simultaneously identifying strengths and weaknesses, immediately providing useful feedback and being user-friendly. According to the default assessment plan, students first create concept maps on a particular subject and then they are given individualized visual feedback followed by associated instructional material (e.g., videos, website links, examples, problems, etc.) based on a comparison of their concept map and a subject matter expert’s map. After studying the feedback and instructional material, teachers can monitor their students’ progress by having them create revised concept maps. Therefore, we claim that the CMfL website may reduce the workload of teachers as well as provide immediate and delayed feedback on the weaknesses of students in different forms such as graphical and multimedia. For the following study, we will examine whether these promising contributions to assessment for learning are valid in a variety of subjects.

Suggestions for teacher education from concept mapping studies

In order to enhance primary and secondary education, teaching and learning methods need to be continuously developed as well as, of course, promote teaching quality dependent on teacher personality, teacher professional development, teacher self-development, etc. Teacher professional development gives the novice teacher access to a wide set of teaching methods and assessment opportunities, especially geared to flexible learning and assessment methods, which can be considered for adoption. One such flexible method is the use of concept mapping. This article describes the results of several studies, where concept mapping method was used, giving many didactical suggestions for using concept mapping for learning and especially for assessment. Additionally, considerations are introduced on using concept maps as a research instrument.

Online testable concept maps: benefits for learning about the pathogenesis of disease.

Concept maps have been used to promote meaningful learning and critical thinking. Although these are crucially important in all disciplines, evidence for the benefits of concept mapping for learning in medicine is limited. We performed a randomised crossover study to assess the benefits of online testable concept maps for learning in pathology by volunteer junior medical students. Participants (n=65) were randomly allocated to either of two groups with equivalent mean prior academic performance, in which they were given access to either online maps or existing online resources for a 2-week block on renal disease. Groups then crossed over for a 2-week block on hepatic disease. Outcomes were assessed using timed online quizzes, which included questions unrelated to topics in the pathogenesis maps as an internal control. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate students' acceptance of the maps. In both blocks, the group with access to pathogenesis maps achieved significantly higher average scores than the control group on quiz questions related to topics covered by the maps (Block 1: p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.9; Block 2: p=0.008, Cohen's d=0.7). However, mean scores on unrelated questions did not differ significantly between the groups. In a third block on pancreatic disease, both groups received pathogenesis maps and collectively performed significantly better on quiz topics related to the maps than on unrelated topics (p<0.01, Cohen's d=0.5). Regression analysis revealed that access to pathogenesis maps was the dominant contributor to variance in performance on map-related quiz questions. Responses to questionnaire items on pathogenesis maps were overwhelmingly positive in both groups. These results indicate that online testable pathogenesis maps are well accepted and can improve learning of concepts in pathology by medical students.

Benefits of Testable Concept Maps for Learning About Pathogenesis of Disease

Background: Concept maps can assist learning by integrating new information with existing cognitive structure to facilitate meaningful understanding. The benefits of testable concept maps to illustrate cause-and-effect sequences in the pathogenesis of disease have not yet been determined. Purpose: A controlled trial was employed to evaluate the learning benefits of testable pathogenesis maps. Methods: Consecutive cohorts of junior medical students allocated to control and study groups participated in case-based pathology practical classes. Online testable pathogenesis maps were integrated into classes for the study group. An online quiz and questionnaire were used to evaluate outcomes. Results: The study group scored significantly higher on the quiz ( p= .014), including significantly better performance in topics covered by pathogenesis maps ( p= .049). The study group's questionnaire responses regarding pathogenesis maps were overwhelmingly positive. Conclusions: Testable pathogenesis maps significantly improved medical students’ understanding of the pathogenesis of disease. Wider use of such maps should be explored.

Concept mapping as a learning strategy for autonomous students with a serialistic cognitive style

This paper aims at improving serialist students' learning effect by concept mapping. It discusses concept mapping as a learning strategy and its effects in either an accommodatory or a compensatory strategy of the student's style. In order to exam the effects, an Autonomous Learning Concept Mapping (ALCM) course containing Globalistic Concept Mapping (GCM) and Specialistic Concept Mapping (SCM), is designed and implemented in the study. The learning effect of ALCM on serialists is evaluated by exam and questionnaire. The paper concludes that serialists improve their learning achievements when they use CM accommodatory strategy properly. Concept mapping improves serialists' learning effects when it is used in a special approach.

The interaction of verbal ability with concept mapping in learning from a chemistry laboratory activity

The interaction of verbal ability with concept mapping in learning from a chemistry laboratory activity