AI-Driven Digital Concept Maps in Learning Environments: Empirical Insights from Student Use
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5377/ryr.v1i62.21724Keywords:
artificial intelligence, higher education, teaching methods, educational technology, visual communication, concept maps, interactive learning toolsAbstract
This study explores the integration of AI-powered, ontology-based interactive concept maps into a university programming course to support student learning and includes a comparison of these maps with AI-generated instructional text materials. As part of the “SDT 100: Principles of Programming with Java” course at American University Kyiv, foundational instructional materials were generated using GPT-4o and formalized into an ontology via the Semantic Portal platform. The platform then automatically generated interactive concept maps, with each node linked to structured concept descriptions. These maps were used alongside AI-powered text lectures, providing students with an alternative to linear instructional content. To assess pedagogical relevance, students were asked to provide qualitative feedback on the perceived usefulness of the concept maps. The findings suggest that such maps are particularly effective for content review and understanding conceptual relationships, serving as a valuable complement to traditional text-based materials. The study provides empirical evidence on the instructional potential of AI-powered, ontology based concept maps and outlines future directions for enhancing their automated generation using large language models.
Downloads
34
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
© Universidad Francisco Gavidia
Instituto de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (ICTI)
Reality and Reflection
The content and opinions expressed in the publication are the responsibility of the authors of the published articles. The authors assign the publishing and publishing rights, in printed and digital version, to the Universidad Francisco Gavidia.
Proof of originality and assignment of publication rights
The authors must sign a certificate in which they indicate that the text presented for publication is original, unpublished and that it has not been sent for review in another academic publication; In turn, the authors assign the rights of publication and publication to Francisco Gavidia University. The format of this record will be sent through the emails: editores@ufg.edu.sv and jlozano@ufg.edu.sv
The journal Reality and Reflection is housed in the institutional dissemination platforms (web page and in the repository), as well as in databases and other pages of scientific dissemination. The publications of the Francisco Gavidia University are subject to the Salvadoran copyright law, contemplated in the Intellectual Property Law https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/
The content of the work is the sole responsibility of the author, therefore, if for any reason or reason, direct or indirect, the Editor is obliged to pay any compensation to a third party derived from the work of the author, whether it is established in a transaction, agreement or final or enforceable judicial sentence, the Editor may repeat against the Author for the total amount of compensation, plus adjustments, interests and costs that correspond.
It will be the obligation of the UFG to grant five copies of the publication which will be delivered at the UFG Editores headquarters in San Salvador.
