The effect of teaching with concept maps on seventh grade students' achievement and making connection skills regarding polygons

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of polygons teaching on the geometry achievement and making connection skills of middle school 7th grade students by means of the concept map. This study was created using the pre-test and post-test control group design, which is one of the quasi-experimental designs. The research was conducted in the 2018-2019 academic year, and the sample of the study consists of 7th grade students studying at a secondary school. In the study, the groups were randomly selected. The study was conducted with 23 students in the control group and 24 students in the experimental group. The research was sustained for 3 weeks and the control group was taught with the activities in the current program, and the experiment group was taught with concept mapping. Geometry achievement test and making connection skills test were used as data collection tools. The Mixed - Design ANOVA method, which is suitable for testing these effects, was used in the study. Bonferroni multiple comparison test was used to interpret the main effects of group and measurement in the study. According to the findings from tests, a statistically significant difference in favor of the experimental group was found between these groups. When all the data obtained from the research are evaluated, it is thought that integrating concept maps into lessons more will improve students' achievement and making connection skills. Therefore, it is recommended to use concept maps when teaching geometry in middle school.