The effect of concept maps on achievement and attitude in a mechanical engineering course

Abstract

The study described in this paper has examined whether the concept mapping strategy can be used to help students to improve their learning achievement and interest. The participants were 84 third-year undergraduate mechanical engineering students enrolled in the internal combustion engine course at a college of engineering of the University of Mumbai in India. The experimental group revealed two results. Firstly, adopting concept mapping strategy can significantly improve students' learning achievement compared to using the traditional teaching methods. There were significant differences favoring the experimental group for the knowledge recall questions and the knowledge application questions. Secondly, most of the students were satisfied using the concept mapping strategy in an internal combustion engine course. They indicated that concept maps can help them to learn, identify the key concepts, and connect the various concepts. They also thought that concept mapping could be used in other curricular areas.