A Preliminary Study on Effect of Providing Linking Words in Concept Mapping for Representing Cell Biology Knowledge

抄録

Concept mapping is an established method to create a network of knowledge. Concept map is made of interconnected propositions in which each proposition comprises of two concepts connected with linking words. The article is to study effect of providing linking words in concept mapping for representing cell biology concepts, comparing with traditional concept mapping among college biology students. A criterion concept map was used to evaluate concepts, linking words and valid propositions. The students’ concept maps were scored for structural complexity and propositional validity. The students’propositions where they used the provided linking words showed a higher proximity percentage with criterion concept map as compared to concept maps without the provided linking words. We discuss the pedagogical implications of our study for understating or forming biological concepts with linking words in concept mapping.