Tools for Creating Constructivist Learning Environment and Assessing Knowledge Development using Concept Maps

Abstract

Concept maps have been considered as effective tools for meaningful learning and knowledge development as well as for evaluation of knowledge gained and skills acquired during the process. These are also helpful in studying the changes taking place in cognitive structures of the learner, specially in the subject domains where content is in structured form. Many researchers have used concept maps as tools for creating constructivist learning environments for teaching different subjects and as tools to assess conceptual knowledge development among the learners. In addition to this, concept maps can also be used for analyzing the effectiveness of a learning system. This paper focuses on all these aspects and is divided into three parts. First part discusses the use of concept maps in designing teaching learning component in a Constructivist Learning Environment(CLE) along with different concept mapping tools to create a concept mapping network. Second part aims at studying and comparing different assessment methods available to measure both conceptual knowledge as well as skills acquired in applying the conceptual knowledge in practical scenarios. Third and the last part identifies and compares different tools available to analyse the results obtained from assessing concept maps. These tools can be used to draw conclusions while assessing the effectiveness of the learning system.