Reflective Learning In College Students, The Concept Map

Reflection is one of the approaches for the students to master how to learn. The ability of reflection is gradually improved as the advancement of society and the development of individuals. Through some literature research, the author finds concept map a reflective learning tool. However, few studies on it are held home and abroad. The research on concept map in P.R. China is still at the early stage of enlightenment, and is in great need of systematic and theoretical analysis and guidance for means of practice. Consequently, the research on the concept map becomes an important research project.By giving a systematic sorting to the various concept maps home and abroad, this paper firstly designed a learning project of concept map for the undergraduates to develop their abilities of reflection according to the modern learning theories, teaching designing theories and some relevant research outcomes, and develops a corresponding network platform forlearning------a website for concept map learning. The above-mentioned work was soon followedby a preliminary test on the concept map learning project, in which the author takes students of the 2003 Grade from College of Educational Information Technology at South China Normal University as study object, who participated the optional courses of Learning Science and Learning Technologies and Psychology for Mass Communication, carries out the action research for three times and adopted some methods as questionnaire, observation, interview, object analysis, case study and so on.The concept map learning project designed by this research follows such a general guideline as it should promote students' reflection ability. The author designs three activities of concept mapping in different stages and forms by combining together the concrete learning content,causes the student to experience reflective process of 'question asking------question exploring------question resolving', adopts such tactics as team collaborative concept mapping,self-evaluation and mutual-evaluation, filling out forms for concept map reflection and so on, inspires students to compare and analyze the productions of concept mapping vertically and horizontally, and stimulates students to make constant reflections, from the summarizing reflection on the learning content to the summarizing reflection on the learning activities of concept map, and to reflection on their own learning experience. Only through such constant reflections can students accumulate and require their own learning experience, understand their own growing course, and eventually master the approaches of how to learn.The study indicates that: 1. Concept map is an efficient reflective learning tool. 2. The concept map learning project designed in this research is practical, and has formed the related application strategies in the practice foundation: (1) set up the student example; (2) stimulate the student motive;(3) student individual concept mapping;(4) team collaborative concept mapping; (5) concept map self-evaluation and mutual-evaluation.3. The platform of concept map learning creates good network learning environment for students, and improves the communication between teacher and students, students and students and is especially useful to carry out the evaluation activities of concept map.