Concept Maps as a Tool to Analyse College Students’ Knowledge of Geospatial Concepts

Abstract

This study focused on college students’ development of conceptual knowledge in geographic information
system (GIS). The aim of this study was to examine if and how students developed their conceptual
knowledge during their enrollment in an introductory-level GIS course. Twelve undergraduate students
constructed 36 concept maps and revised 24 concept maps in three sessions. The author scored those 60
concept maps in two different ways. The first method measured the degree to which concept maps were
structurally complex; the second method assessed the correctness of interrelationships between spatial
concepts shown in the maps. A statistical analysis of the scores obtained through the second method
suggested that there was a significant difference between the maps created in the first session and the maps
revised in the second session. Students could successfully revise their original concept maps at the middle
of a semester. A mix of the two quantitative and qualitative methods had the potential to examine the
development of students’ conceptual knowledge through multiple perspectives. Lastly, this study discusses
how concept maps can be applied to research and instructions. Concept maps can be used for exploring
students’ understanding of spatial concepts.