Cognitive networking as a learning strategy.

A concept map, concept network, or hierarchical concept tree is an instructional tool which graphically arranges information to help students build better mental connections among concepts. The ability to retain and recall concepts by building such mental connections is called cognitive networking. In the pilot study described here, we tested whether this arrangement of graphics could enhance senior medical technology students' ability to create effective cognitive networks on bacterial features. The self-instructional slide/tape program we designed made use of the graphics to show the relationships among general and specific bacterial features. Students who viewed the slide/tape and used the graphics when studying for the exam performed significantly better on objectives illustrated on the slide/tape than did the previous class which did not view the graphics. There was no significant difference between the two groups on objectives which were the base from which the graphics were built.