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.
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, student's perceptions of the effect of the mind-mapping on problem solving skills were evaluated and data analysis was performed through content analysis.
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 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.