title: Concept mapping: an effective instructional strategy for diet therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: San Jose State University, CA 95192-0058.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sucher
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States