DET portfolio - Karhadkar Supriya

Topic: A Study of the Effectiveness of Concept Maps for Teaching TYBHSc students

Author: Supriya Karhadkar

Year: 2008-2009

Abstract:
Graphic Organizer is one of the techniques which can be used in teaching-learning process. Graphic organizers come in many varieties. It can be used to improve learning outcomes for various students.

Concept map is one of the types of graphic organizers developed by Novak (1970) as a way to improve meaningful learning in the sciences.
Concept mapping is a general method with which one can clarify and describe people's ideas about some topic in a graphical form. By mapping out concepts in pictorial form, one can get a better understanding of the relationships among them. It also helps students to organize information and to develop higher-order thinking skills.

Objectives of the research were:

To design concept maps for teaching TYBHSc students.
To study the effectiveness of concept maps for teaching TYBHSc students.
To determine the opinions of student regarding learning through concept maps.

The type of research carried out for this study was quantitative research. It consisted of collection of numerical data in order to explain, predict and/or control phenomena of interest. It was used to measure how many people feel or think in a particular way.
Research method selected was Experimental method. Under this method the pre-experimental design was used. In that single group pre test and post test design was selected. As the sample was students studying in the same class there was a possibility of threat of contamination of sample, thus the single group design.

From the data analysis, interpretations and the findings it is concluded that the concept maps as a strategy is effective in teaching TYBHSc students. The concept maps and session plan designed were effective. The participants of the research liked learning content through a new strategy. They have positive opinion about the use of concept maps in future.