Concept-Mapping Research on the Study of Mechanics in the Lower Secondary School

Abstract

Student concept structures about mechanics in nine different learning stages were investigated by using the concept-mapping method. According to the results, the student concept structure develops from simple and partial concepts to complex and global ones in the individual learning-stages. To make the concept map, eight key words and various related words were used. For example, words concerned with daily knowledge such as "men" and "muscles" were frequently used by the lower school career students.