Assessment of Concept Mapping Models and Structured Content Models

A well–designed instructional module ensures that the subject matter content is effectively integrated with the presentation format. In other words, the instructor attempts to blend the presentation and content in theory as well as practice. In reality, the instructor should assume the role of a facilitator and effectively utilize modern technology to experiment on innovative ideas. The ultimate objective is a delivery mechanism that can lead to new classroom instructional strategies. Researchers are also of the opinion that education in a new learning paradigm will better prepare students for the work ahead of them. Whether it be performance arts like theatre and music, or be it a laboratory setting like physics or biology, student performance can be effectively accentuated by adopting creative instructional lesson plans. Furthermore, many of our educational institutions have tried to move away from emphasizing the establishment of a strong knowledge-base. In this paper the author discusses two models that he has successfully utilized for accentuating student performance. The first is identified as Concept Mapping Model and the second in identified as Structured Content Model. These two models are of particular interest to Ocean Engineering Courses because certain topics and subject matter can be better presented to the students by selective choice of one of these two models. In certain Ocean Engineering foundation courses it is very important to stress and cover the fundamental concepts and one has to utilize Structured Content Model. In upper level courses, however the students may benefit with the use of Concept Mapping Model because strong foundation and important concepts have already been established in lower level, elementary and basic courses.