Hybrid Group-Based Concept Mapping

Abstract

Helping students to understand complex processes is one of the core challenges in teaching biology courses. Concept mapping is a flexible pedagogical method that enables students to learn the complexities of a given subject while at the same time being versatile enough that instructors can easily pivot between instructional modalities and/or update learning goals. In concept mapping the instructor chooses key terms (topics, subjects, words, ideas) from the course and the students draw labeled connections between these terms. The labels on these connections describe the relationship between the two terms. Here I describe my approach to concept mapping in teaching ‘Climate Change Biology’ at Rowan University: hybrid group concept mapping. This approach is suitable for virtually any course, can be employed as a stand-alone assignment or as the basis for the entire course, and is appropriate for virtual (synchronous) or in-person instructional modalities.

Keywords:

• Concept Mapping
• Higher-Order learning
• Pedagogy
• Groups
• Online, In-person, Hybrid instruction