Los Mapas Conceptuales como Estrategia de Aprendizaje en la Enseñanza Universitaria

Abstract

Effective learning relies on a wide range of personal and contextual factors. Organizational learning strategies are one of the most frequently used, given that they provide a structure to the study contents. One of these strategies is concept mapping (Novak y Gowin, 1988). The aim of the current research was to develop and assess a program to teach how to draw up and evaluate concept maps. The program was applied in four groups of the course “Psychology of Education” to 216 students, who received specific training on this topic. Results showed that the program was appropriate and students’ scores significantly improved after its implementation. These results confirm the importance of developing classroom activities focused on promoting metacognitive skills. Teaching by technical training what type of processes must be activated and how to do it, will stimulate students to be active and effective learners as well as to become the main agents of their own learning process.