Concept Mapping as an Innovative Teaching Strategy to Enhance Cognitive Learning in Nursing Administration Course

Background Concept mapping is a teaching and learning strategy that establishes a bridge between howpeople learn knowledge and sensible learning.Aim The present study aims to explore the effect of concept mapping based learning on students' cognitivelearning levels in nursing administration course.Methods It is a quasi- experimental study. The study was conducted in faculty of nursing –Helwan University.Subjects were composed of all 4th year students (102) in faculty of nursing –Helwan University, for the academicyear 2012-2013, . Two types of Questionnaire formats were used (Students’ knowledge about conceptmapping questionnaire format and satisfaction questionnaire format) plus concept map assessment Rubricand students’ achievement test in collecting data for this study.Findings The majority of the experimental students before awareness sessions were lack knowledge aboutconcept mapping. Also, regarding applications concept map scoring rubric assignments the majority of theexperimental students had moderate score in the 1st assignment and high score in 2nd assignment. As evident,the majority of the studied students either control or experimental had low score in pre-test. While, in the posttestthe majority of experimental had high score. Most of them perceived concept mapping positively as alearning tool.Conclusion There was a high significant difference between experimental students' knowledge about conceptmapping before and after awareness sessions, concept mapping improved students’ meaningful learninglevels. Finally, most of experimental students perceived concept mapping positively.