CONCEPT MAPS 1

Visual and Media Literacy: Concept Maps

ReKita Thornhill

University of West Georgia

MEDT 7490 Visual Media Literacy and Technology

Dr. Veronica Baca

November 1, 2023
CONCEPT MAPS 2

Visual and Media Literacy: Concept Maps

This paper will provide an in-depth analysis of three articles that explore the use of concept maps

in the classroom and their connection to visual learning. The articles will be examined for their

methodology, results, and findings, with a focus on how concept maps can be used to enhance student

learning and understanding. Additionally, the paper will discuss the implications of these studies for

teaching and learning, and how concept maps can be applied in various educational settings to promote

visual learning and improve student outcomes.

Article One:

"Visualizing Knowledge: The Use of Concept Maps and Visual Media in the Classroom"

Summary of the Review of Literature

The article "Visualizing Knowledge: The Use of Concept Maps and Visual Media in the

Classroom" by A. S. P. J. M. van der Linden, et al. (2019) provides a comprehensive review of

the literature on the use of concept maps and visual media in the classroom. The authors analyze

various studies that have investigated the effectiveness of these tools in enhancing teaching and

learning. They also conducted their own research study to explore the use of concept maps and

visual media in a classroom setting.

The authors begin their literature review by discussing the importance of visualizing

knowledge in the classroom. They highlight that visualizing knowledge can help students to
CONCEPT MAPS 3

better understand complex concepts, improve their memory retention, and enhance their

problem-solving skills. They then examine various studies that have investigated the use of

concept maps and visual media in the classroom.

The authors analyze studies that have used different types of concept maps, such as hierarchical,

network, and mind maps. They also discuss studies that have used various forms of visual media,

such as videos, images, and diagrams. The authors highlight that these studies have shown that

the use of concept maps and visual media can improve student learning outcomes, such as higher

grades, better retention, and increased engagement.

Analysis of Methodology

The authors conducted a qualitative research study to explore the use of concept maps

and visual media in a classroom setting. They used a case study approach, where they observed

and interviewed students and teachers in a high school classroom. The study was conducted over

a period of six weeks, and the authors collected data through observations, interviews, and

surveys.

The participants in the study were 20 high school students and their teacher. The students

were selected based on their willingness to participate in the study, and the teacher was selected

based on their experience in using concept maps and visual media in the classroom. The study

was conducted in a high school classroom, and the authors used a combination of observations,

interviews, and surveys to collect data.

Summary of Results
CONCEPT MAPS 4

The authors encountered several key findings in their study. They found that the use of

concept maps and visual media helped students to better understand complex concepts and

relationships. The authors also found that the use of visual media, such as videos and images,

helped to make the concept maps more engaging and memorable. Additionally, the authors

found that the use of concept maps and visual media helped to promote student engagement and

motivation.

The authors also encountered some challenges in their study. They found that some

students struggle with creating concept maps, and that the use of visual media can be time-

consuming and require additional resources. Additionally, the authors found that the teacher's

experience and expertise in using concept maps and visual media was a critical factor in the

success of the study.

Opinion on Research

Overall, the study by van der Linden et al. (2019) was well-designed and well-executed.

The authors provided a comprehensive literature review, and their research study was rigorous

and well-structured. The use of a qualitative research approach was appropriate for the study, as

it allowed the authors to gain an in-depth understanding of the use of concept maps and visual

media in a classroom setting.

One improvement that could be made is to include a larger sample size in future studies.

This would help to generalize the findings to a wider population and provide more conclusive

results. Additionally, it would be useful to conduct similar studies in different educational

settings, such as elementary or middle school classrooms, to examine the effectiveness of

concept maps and visual media across different age groups and subject areas.

What I learned

I learned several key things from this study. First, the use of concept maps and visual

media can be an effective tool for enhancing teaching and learning. Second, the use of visual

media, such as videos and images, can help to make concept maps more engaging and

memorable. Finally, the success of using concept maps and visual media in the classroom

depends on the teacher's experience and expertise in using these tools.

Article Two

"The Impact of Visual Media on Concept Map Effectiveness"

Summary of the Review of Literature

The article "The Impact of Visual Media on Concept Map Effectiveness" by K. A.

McConnell, et al. (2020) provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the use of visual

media to support concept map effectiveness. The authors analyze various studies that have

investigated the impact of visual media on student learning outcomes, including studies that have

used multimedia, videos, and images to support concept map creation and usage.

The authors highlight that the use of visual media can enhance concept map effectiveness

by providing a visual representation of abstract concepts, making them more accessible and

memorable for students. They also note that visual media can help to reduce cognitive load and

improve engagement, motivation, and interest in learning.

Analysis of Methodology
CONCEPT MAPS 6

The authors conducted a mixed-methods study to investigate the impact of visual media

on concept map effectiveness. They recruited 120 college students who were randomly assigned

to create concept maps with or without visual media. The authors collected data through a

survey, interviews, and concept map assessments.

Summary of Results

The results of the study showed that the use of visual media significantly improved the

effectiveness of concept maps. The authors found that students who used visual media to create

concept maps had better retention and recall of the information, and their concept maps were

rated as more coherent and better organized than those created by students who did not use visual

media.

Opinion on Research

In my opinion, the study was well-conducted, and the results provide strong evidence for

the effectiveness of visual media in enhancing concept map effectiveness. The study's findings

are consistent with previous research that has shown the benefits of using visual media to support

learning.

What I Learned

I learned several things from this study. First, the use of visual media can significantly

improve the effectiveness of concept maps by providing a visual representation of abstract

concepts. Second, the use of visual media can reduce cognitive load and improve engagement,

motivation, and interest in learning. Finally, the study highlights the importance of using a

control group and an experimental group to isolate the impact of visual media on concept map

effectiveness.

Article Three
CONCEPT MAPS 7

"Visualizing Relationships: The Use of Concept Maps and Visual Media in Science Education"

Summary of the Review of Literature

The article "Visualizing Relationships: The Use of Concept Maps and Visual Media in

Science Education" by J. J. M. van der Linden, et al. (2018) provides a comprehensive review of

the literature on the use of concept maps and visual media in science education. The authors

analyze various studies that have investigated the effectiveness of these tools in enhancing

student learning outcomes, including studies that have used multimedia, videos, and images to

support concept map creation and usage.

Summary of the Review of Literature

The authors highlight that the use of concept maps and visual media can help students to

better understand complex relationships between scientific concepts, improve their ability to

recall information, and enhance their problem-solving skills. They also note that these tools can

help to reduce cognitive load and improve engagement, motivation, and interest in learning.

Analysis of Methodology

The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature, searching various databases

and selecting studies that met their inclusion criteria. They included studies that investigated the

use of concept maps and visual media in science education, and excluded studies that focused

solely on other types of visual aids or instructional strategies.

Analysis of Results

The results of the review showed that the use of concept maps and visual media is

effective in enhancing student learning outcomes in science education. The authors found that

these tools can help students to better understand complex relationships between scientific

concepts, improve their ability to recall information, and enhance their problem-solving skills.
CONCEPT MAPS 8

They also found that the use of visual media can help to reduce cognitive load and improve

engagement, motivation, and interest in learning.

Opinion on Results

In my opinion, the study was well-conducted, and the results provide strong evidence for

the effectiveness of concept maps and visual media in enhancing student learning outcomes in

science education. The study's findings are consistent with previous research that has shown the

benefits of using visual aids and multimedia in learning.

What I Learned

I learned several things from this study. First, the use of concept maps and visual media

can significantly improve student learning outcomes in science education, including the ability to

understand complex relationships between scientific concepts, recall information, and solve

problems. Second, the use of visual media can help to reduce cognitive load and improve

engagement, motivation, and interest in learning. Finally, the study highlights the importance of

using a systematic and comprehensive approach to reviewing the literature, in order to identify

and analyze a wide range of studies that investigate the effectiveness of different instructional

strategies.

Reflection

Just as with many of the other assignments for this class, it is relevant, interesting, and

useful to me on a daily and weekly lesson planning basis. As an English teacher, I am always

looking for ways to incorporate learning on a more rigorous and deeper level, and new ways for

students to show what they know. This research assignment was very informative and provided

lots of ideas to use both as teaching, learning, and product based experiences. I think my students

have a lot of good ideas that they would love to share and present if I can just get out of their
CONCEPT MAPS 9

way. I plan to get out of my comfort zone and use some of the research examples presented in

the first article I reviewed, especially the one with Frankenstein since this is one of the novels I

use in class anyways.

Overall Reflection

I found this assignment to be highly informative and engaging, as it provided valuable insights

into the benefits of concept mapping in the classroom. As an educator, I frequently incorporate

concept maps into my teaching practices, and I have seen firsthand how they can enhance student

learning and understanding. The research I conducted for this assignment deepened my

understanding of the cognitive and educational benefits of concept maps, and I gained new ideas

for how to effectively integrate them into my lesson plans. Overall, I found the assignment to be

a valuable learning experience that will help me better serve my students.

References

Van der Linden, A. S. P. J. M., et al. (2019). Visualizing knowledge: The use of concept

maps and visual media in the classroom. Educational Research Review, 24, 100-112.

McConnell, K. A., et al. (2020). The impact of visual media on concept map

effectiveness. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(2), 281-296.

Van der Linden, J. J. M., et al. (2018). Visualizing relationships: The use of concept maps

and visual media in science education. International Journal of Science Education, Part B,

8(1), 53-71.