Concept Mapping for Students in Health Professions: Enhancing Education and Application
摘要
Concept mapping is a versatile educational tool that enhances the learning experience for health profession students by visually representing knowledge and relationships among concepts. This chapter explores the structure, applications, and benefits of concept maps in healthcare education. Concept maps consist of nodes (representing ideas) and linking lines (indicating relationships), arranged in hierarchical or nonhierarchical structures to organize and synthesize complex information. They facilitate active learning, critical thinking, and long-term retention by enabling students to identify knowledge gaps, integrate new concepts, and establish connections among ideas. In healthcare education, concept maps serve as effective tools for both learning and assessment. They allow educators to evaluate students’ understanding and identify misconceptions while fostering a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork, communication, and interdisciplinary interaction. The process of constructing concept maps involves brainstorming, discussion, and reflection, which enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the collaborative nature of concept mapping nurtures leadership, followership, and conflict resolution abilities among students. By combining visual representation with active engagement, concept mapping contributes to meaningful learning and prepares students for interdisciplinary collaboration and effective communication in their professional practice, ultimately strengthening their capacity for critical and innovative thinking in the healthcare field.