title: Concept maps: A tool for knowledge management and synthesis in web-based conversational learning.
abstract: Web-based conversational learning provides an opportunity for shared knowledge base creation through collaboration and collective wisdom extraction. Usually, the amount of generated information in such forums is very huge, multidimensional (in alignment with the desirable preconditions for constructivist knowledge creation), and sometimes, the nature of expected new information may not be anticipated in advance. Thus, concept maps (crafted from constructed data) as "process summary" tools may be a solution to improve critical thinking and learning by making connections between the facts or knowledge shared by the participants during online discussion This exploratory paper begins with the description of this innovation tried on a web-based interacting platform (email list management software), FAIMER-Listserv, and generated qualitative evidence through peer-feedback. This process description is further supported by a theoretical construct which shows how social constructivism (inclusive of autonomy and complexity) affects the conversational learning. The paper rationalizes the use of concept map as mid-summary tool for extracting information and further sense making out of this apparent intricacy.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors: Ankur
authors: A
authors: Joshi
authors: Department of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Satendra
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Shivani
authors: S
authors: Jaswal
authors: Department of Pharmacology, CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Dinesh Kumar
authors: DK
authors: Badyal
authors: Department of Paediatrics, CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Tejinder
authors: T
authors: Singh
keywords: Adult learning; concept map; conversational learning; process summary; web-based learning