Using Online Concept Mapping with Peer Learning to Enhance Concept Application

In a recent study, Chang & Chang (2008) found that students in an online course who used concept maps as a learning strategy improved their ability to apply a theory to a real world scenario (2008).

Concept maps are diagrams that can be created using tools such as pen and paper, post it notes, or computer software. A concept map involves nodes that are linked together by relationships. Each node represents a concept such as "viral marketing," "Greek philosophy," or "energy conservation." Each relationship represents a relationship between two nodes such as "affects the population," "was influenced by," or "being developed by."

Concept maps were used in the experimenter's course that covered learning theory. They were implemented to help achieve the learning goal of organizing and giving structure to multiple theories of learning and how the theories related to scenarios that the students would face in future learning environments.

In this experiment, two conditions were formed, students who were required to use concept maps throughout the class and those who did not. The research team assessed student learning by grading assignments that demonstrated concept application in the learning theory domain; using a rubric following the categories of (Chang & Chang, 2005, p.20):

1. Instructional strategies were clearly described and appropriate for the given learners to achieve the learning goal
2. The instructional strategies were consistent with the concepts of the given learning theory
3. The rationale for using the instructional strategy was logical and consistent with theory

Researchers found that students who had used concept maps had statistically significant higher scores on their concept application assignments than those who did not. While the research team admits that this could be due to a number of experimental biases, most notably that those in the control condition did not have any additional instructional techniques applied, the results do warrant further study of concept mapping as an instructional strategy.

With that in mind, we provide some links to concept maps and examples of how they might be applied in a course.

Resources

How to make a concept map
List of concept mapping software from Penn State University

Concept Map Examples:

• British Romantic Literature
• History of Life
• Hong Kong's Legal Framework

References

Chang, S., & Chang, Y. (2008, Spring2008). USING ONLINE CONCEPT MAPPING WITH PEER LEARNING TO ENHANCE CONCEPT APPLICATION. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 9(1), 17-27. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from Professional Development Collection database.