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Comparative studies on concept maps elaboration for assessment of learning: identifying the importance of demands and the preparation effect

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Author(s):
Anderson Dias Viana
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: São Paulo.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física (IF/SBI)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Paulo Rogério Miranda Correia; Marco Antonio Bueno Filho
Advisor: Paulo Rogério Miranda Correia
Abstract

Concept maps are graphical tools that allows the representation of the student\'s mental models. Due to this capacity, the concept map can be used as an assessement tool of knowledge. The use of this tool in the classroom generates loads in working memory which can be related to the content (intrinsic load) or how this feature is being used in the classroom (extrinsic load). This study aims to investigate how the concept maps help to assess learning in the Natural Science: Science, Culture and Society course offered at the University of São Paulo for students of various undergraduate courses (n = 64) during the 2013.1 on the content of climate change. In the course, conceptual map could be used as a preparation tool for test (CM-PREP) and was also used as part of the formal evaluation of the course (CM-EVAL). This research is composed of three studies that investigate: 1. Differences in conceptual maps profiles obtained on condition of CM-PREP x CMEVAL; 2. If the group of students who took CM-PREP had a different profile in CMAVAL of those who did not; 3. The existence of a correlation between CM-EVAL features with the declarative knowledge of students. Concept maps were evaluated considering structural and semantic aspects. The methodologies of analyzes are taken from other papers. Among the semantic aspects were the use of instructional materials, the nature of the propositions, the presence of errors and adhesion to focus question. In addition to these analyzes, it was verified the presence of natural groups that could be explained with the use of theoretical categories. Analysis of the results indicates that the conceptual maps of the CM-PREP and CM-EVAL conditions are quite distinct from each other as it catered to different educational goals. At the Study 2, it was found that the CM-PREP not strongly influenced the development of CM-EVAL, as the reduction of extrinsic charge caused by CM-PREP elaboration was not enough to show differences between the groups, since both were highly trained in conceptual mapping technique. Finally, in Study 3, the main factor correlating the declarative knowledge to the complexity of the conceptual maps was the percentage of appropriate propositions. We concluded that the demand of elaboration of the conceptual map is actually the guide to the type of conceptual map obtained, the elaboration of CM-PREP does not change in a well-trained group in the technique and the main method of assessing concept maps should be reading its propositions. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/03367-5 - Concept maps for learning evaluation: making students' conceptual relationships about climate change visible
Grantee:Anderson Dias Viana
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master