Concept mapping: an effective instructional strategy for diet therapy

Concept mapping is an instructional strategy that requires learners to identify, graphically display, and link key concepts in instructional reading material. Although proven effective in numerous disciplines as a means to promote critical thinking and self-directed learning, concept mapping has not been tested in diet therapy. The objective of this study was to implement concept mapping as a small-group, cooperative learning strategy in an upper-division diet therapy course and to evaluate student attitudes about the effect of concept mapping on knowledge, self-directed learning, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. Students in the first semester (n = 27) initially learned course material by lecture (4 weeks) followed by an integrated mapping/lecture format (12 weeks); the second semester (n = 25) used an integrated mapping lecture format for the full 16 weeks. At the end of both semesters, students completed a 10-item original survey questionnaire. Responses for first (n = 25) and second (n = 21) semesters were analyzed independently. Results indicated that a majority of students thought participation in concept mapping enhanced knowledge of diet therapy principles (n = 19 of 25; 18 of 21), self-directed learning (n = 14 of 25; 18 of 21), critical thinking (n = 21 of 25; 14 of 21), problem-solving (n = 22 of 25; 16 of 21), and collaboration (n = 24 of 25; 20 of 21) skills. When noncooperation of teammates was a factor, concept mapping was viewed as more frustrating and time consuming than lecture. This study demonstrated concept mapping as an effective learning strategy for diet therapy; it improves students' ability to engage in self-directed learning, critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem solving. Results suggest that concept mapping is most effective when accompanied with comprehensive training, coordinated lectures, instructor guidance, and long-term practice.