Structure formation maps as a didactic tool for teaching evaluation and reflection of subjective theories

Abstract

Subjective theories are guiding action and therefore influence how teachers plan and conduct their teaching. The article describes how students can work out their subjective theories with the help of a structure-laying technique and thus make them accessible for reflection. The structure formation maps should represent the subjective theories of the students as adequately as possible by representing the contents of the subjective theories by conceptual cards and relations by arrows. The structure formation maps can, for example, be drawn up in the first and last session of a seminar. Teachers can use the maps to plan their courses adaptively by referring to the subjective theories of their students. At the same time, the structure formation maps can be used for evaluation by comparing the versions from the beginning and end of the seminar. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the learning progress of the students. To illustrate this, two structure formation maps to the topic of good inclusive teaching, which a learner as drawn up before and after a seminar, are analysed exemplarily.