CONNECTING CONCEPTS: THE IMPACT OF DYNAMIC DIGITAL MIND MAPS ON LEARNING LINEAR SYSTEMS

Abstract

Traditional teaching methods tend to emphasize verbal and linear learning, focusing on isolated information rather than identifying relationships between concepts. However, building meaningful understanding requires visualizing these conceptual interconnections. The shift from a linear approach to integrated network models, such as mind maps, facilitates this knowledge organization, allowing students to develop a deeper understanding of concepts. With the advent of distance learning, additional challenges arise in the production of teaching materials, requiring critical reflection on the potentialities and challenges of digital technologies in pedagogical practice. Therefore, this research investigates the effectiveness of using dynamic digital mind maps (DDMM) in learning Electrical Engineering, focusing on the Linear Systems course. The study aims to evaluate, through a data collection instrument, how mind maps can assist students in understanding mathematical and abstract concepts, highlighting two perspectives: how students learn, and their perceptions of meaningful learning based on Digital Educational Resources. The experience emphasized a lesson plan for knowledge construction in the face of the challenges of 21st-century engineering education, developing competencies and skills for solving real and interdisciplinary problems.