Topic
Topic: Using Concept Maps to Enhance Students’ Prior Knowledge in Complex Learning
Abstract: Relevant prior knowledge is an important component to learning new, complex topics. However, adults are often faced with learning new topics wherein they have low prior knowledge. Novice learners can experience difficulty learning new topics and learning can create high cognitive load. This study has recruited adults who know little about diabetes. This study uses an online format to teach diabetes with text, learning questions, and transfer questions. Experimental groups use a concept map to help novice learners lay down a basic knowledge schema, to help increase germane cognitive load, and to help decrease extrinsic cognitive load.
The following are downloadable copies of my paper and ppt.
- Published paper
- SITE 2008 Presentation PowerPoint
How it went
It was certainly a new experience for me, but it was an easy presentation. I knew the topic really well after having done the literature review and preliminary study.
Because I was reporting on a preliminary study and not a final study with significance, I had to report on a trend and a strong hypothesis as to what will happen in my final study. It went pretty well and I was so proud of myself that I was confident and able to answer questions about the statistics of my study.
Trend of means between treatment groups
I also had several people very interested in accounting for cognitive load when teaching technology classes. I recently blogged about this topic, and having already thought out my feelings on this topic (through the blog) I was easily able to discuss this topic. Yay for blogging! Blogging does help me keep my thoughts straight and somewhat intelligent.
All in all, presenting at my first conference was a really good experience and good opportunity. It did what is was supposed to do: I am more confident and feeling more capable, unlike how I was feeling a few months ago.
To sum it up, I had received some really good advise when presenting at a conference: act confident, don’t apologize for anything, give only pertinent literature review and use these theories to back up everything you state, state your study including design, statistics, significance (if final study), and state a firm hypotheses. Next time, I will take copies of my paper to hand out; that would have been nice for the dozen or so who attended my presentation.
