San José, Costa Rica, 2006 IS IT POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE MEANINGFUL LEARNING IN MATH IN PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS?

Abstract. This paper deals with the use of concept maps as a tool for the teaching and quantitative- qualitative assessment of math in primary school learners. The results indicate significant optimisation in the use of the concepts involved in the topics, and a noticeable improvement in the cognitive structure of the learners, who store the concepts in their long-term memory in a more orderly and hierarchical fashion than when taught by means of rote learning techniques. The authors conclude that concept maps is an extremely valuable tool to enhance meaningful learning in pupils. They therefore recommend them for use in the teaching/learning of math at primary school level.