The Use of Concept Mapping to Support Collaborative Inquiry Learning in an Online Environment

Abstract

This study designed a concept mapping mediated online environment for inquiry learning and examined its effects on learning in a collaborative inquiry context. An online inquiry learning environment was developed to engage students in complex inquiry processes. A pilot study was conducted to explore the use of concept mapping in collaborative inquiry learning and examine its effects on task performance, and learner perceptions. A class of 49 eleventh-grade students participated in the study. They learned in small groups and constructed concept maps to support their inquiry learning. The findings demonstrate the promising effects of concept mapping on supporting inquiry learning, and provide implications for further study on the use concept mapping in inquiry learning contexts.