Concept Mapping as a Tool for Fostering Self-Directed Learning Among Graduate Medical Students in Biochemistry: An...

Concept mapping is an active learning strategy promoting self-directed learning. The intellectual involvement in the preparation of concept mapping is a learning process. We tested the utility of concept mapping in improving self-directed learning among medical graduate students in Biochemistry. The study was conducted among first-year undergraduate medical students at our institute after their regular teaching modules in biochemistry. The students prepared concept maps on three topics by referring to textbooks and class notes as a home task. Pre- and posttests were conducted with MCQs to assess the gain from the exercise. Classification of the students into low, average, and high achievers was carried out to analyze the results. After the training, we took feedback from the students using a Likert scale. We conducted focus group discussions among the different groups of students to examine the factors that facilitated or hindered their learning with concept mapping. There was a significant gain in understanding the three chosen topics by the concept mapping. Although the overall gain from concept mapping was higher than the gain from self-study, it reached statistical significance only among the low achievers in this study. The students generally felt this exercise was more beneficial than self-study and enhanced their self-directed learning process. Several factors facilitated their self-directed learning by concept mapping. Concept mapping is an effective method for fostering self-directed learning among graduate medical students in Biochemistry.