Educators' ability to use concept mapping as a tool to facilitate meaningful learning

Background: Meaningful learning is enhanced when concepts are visually differentiated, linked to or nested under other concepts, resulting in integrative reconciliation of knowledge and understanding. Competence in using concept mapping as a strategy to support students towards meaningful learning, is essential.Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the nature of the concept maps drawn by educators after a symposium on concept maps to transfer educational knowledge to the classroom.Design: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was used to explore the nature of concept maps drawn by educators after having attended a workshop on concept mapping.Methods: The authors developed a checklist based on the principles of a good concept map to assess and describe to what extent the concept maps drawn by the participants, aligned with general principles on creating a concept map appropriate to enhance meaningful learning. During a symposium, participants were introduced to the advantages, principles and requirements for concept mapping. Sixty-two (62; 100%) participants drew concept maps. Using a checklist based on the principles of good concept mapping, we assessed concept maps from 22 (35.4%) volunteers to explore the extent to which the concept maps aligned with general principles necessary to enhance meaningful learning.Results: Criteria for a good concept map include the graphical presentation and establishing relationships between these concepts. The network-style concept map was used by the majority (68%) of the participants. Only 9% used the spoke concept map. The graphical presentation of concepts and the relationships between these was limited. Only 41% of the maps were understandable, while 36% made sense in the context of the chosen topic.Conclusions: Well-designed concept maps can add value to and improve educator teaching and student learning. Not all educators in this study understood what a good concept map is. Visualisation offered by concept maps assist in recognising how new knowledge can link with, and build on, existing knowledge.