Teaching Students How to Learn: The Importance of Time and Content in Concept Mapping Training

• In Event: Contemporary Science Teaching and Learning: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Concept mapping is a learning method that can foster meaningful learning and deeper learning as well as improve learning outcomes. Successful learning with concept maps requires practice but important parameters such as the structure, content, intensity, and duration of an adequate training for an effective use of concept mapping are still debated. To close the research gap, we manipulated the content and duration of a training in concept mapping for three groups in a quasi-experimental intervention study. After a training phase, participants constructed concept maps in a learning phase on the topic of cell biology. Learning outcomes were assessed 1 and 2 weeks later. Results indicate that an extensive training in concept mapping with scaffolding and feedback helps students best.

Authors

• Lukas Bernhard Becker, University of Cologne

• Virginia Welter, University of Cologne

• Ellen Aschermann, University of Cologne

• Steffen Tröbst, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education

• Jörg Grossschedl, University of Cologne