The effects of semantic mapping strategy on learning performances of prep students: Digital vs paper-based

This study aims to compare the effects of semantic mapping strategy between digital and non-digital means on vocabulary learning in ELT. A quasi-experimental research design was used to conduct the study. The study involved 42 students from the School of Foreign Languages at Dokuz Eylül University studying at various departments such as engineering, international relations, tourism management and international trade in two regular prep classes for English. The participants were divided equally between the two experimental groups. Digital semantic mapping was used by the Experimental group 1 while paper-based semantic mapping was employed by the Experimental group 2. The implementation lasted for six weeks. Quantitative data was collected by a pre-test and a post-test developed and organized by the researcher. The same reading materials and procedures were applied to both groups throughout the process of the implementation. The results of the statistical study were calculated using the T-test. Scores from the pre-tests and post-tests were compared to see how well the implementation worked. Also, a structured interview was employed in order to collect further data. At this stage, a total of 10 students were interviewed, five students from the digital semantic mapping group and five students from the paper-based semantic mapping group. The analysis of the quantitative data demonstrated that there was not a significant difference between the two experimental groups. The positive results of the digital semantic mapping group and the paper-based semantic group have suggested that semantic mapping is an effective strategy for learning new vocabulary no matter how it is applied, with digital means or paper-based. However, the interview results showed that students who used the semantic mapping strategy with digital means were found to be comparatively more eager and motivated to utilize the semantic mapping strategy for vocabulary learning after the implementation as they are digital natives. Key words: Semantic mapping strategy, digital semantic mapping, paper-based semantic mapping, vocabulary learning, digital natives.