Investigating the cognitive structure of students studying quantum theory in an open university history of science course: a pilot study

Concept maps have been used to present information and to facilitate learning by students constructing their own maps, but there have been few studies on concept maps as a tool for research into the nature of student learning and the evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching. In setting concept mapping exercises two main issues have been identified, the framework in which students construct their maps (ie the instructions and assistance provided) and procedures for analyzing complete maps. Students taking a history course at a distance, generated concept maps after studying an introductory teaching unit on quantum mechanics. Analysis of the maps and comparison with the unit authors’map showed students’failure to identify‘radiation’as a central concept and to make links between concepts considered essential by the authors. Inspection of the teaching material indicated that‘radiation’as a central concept was implicit rather than directly explained. Analysis of students’descriptions of relationships between concepts identified different levels of description, with a group of students consistently responding at higher level than the rest of the sample. The study confirmed the usefulness of concept maps as a tool for research and evaluation and their potential for development as qualitative measures of learning.