THE EFFECT OF USING MIND-MAPPING SOFTWARE ON STUDENT PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

One of the new educational strategies that play an important role in promoting
active learning and problem-solving skills is a mind-mapping technique that stimulates creativity and
thinking by using images, colors, communication, and structural representations of concepts. One of the
best mind- mapping software that has more usability and user-friendly is Freeplane. The purpose of this
research is to identify the effect of using mind-mapping software on student problem-solving skills.
Materials & Methods: This is a mix-method study (quantitative and qualitative) that conducted in two
consecutive phases. In the quantitative phase, population of the study consisted of 24 health information
technology students of Urmia University of medical sciences that were randomly divided into two
groups (case-control) to the case group, training was provided to work with the Freeplane software.
During the internship, both groups were asked to provide appropriate solutions for problems related to
the health information management department of hospitals. Then, the mean scores of both groups were
compared by independent t-test. In the qualitative phase, using a semi-structured interview method,
students' perceptions of the effect of the mind-mapping on problem solving skills were evaluated and
data analysis was performed through content analysis.
Results: The mean scores in the case group were 18.33 ± 1.68 and in the control group were 15.26 ±
2.05. The results of independent t-test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean
scores of both groups (p <0.05). Also students who used the Freeplane software believed that it provide
a better understanding of the problem, increase problem-solving skills and creativity, and focus on
learning.
Conclusion: Given the critical need of medical students to learn problem-solving skills for proper
decision-making and solving complex problem, the using the potential capabilities of mind-mapping
software in medical education could be useful. Therefore, it is suggested that in order to develop the use
of mind-mapping technique and its software, training should be provided to promote problem solving
skills and creative thinking in students