Relationship maps to make students' thinking visible

Abstract

There are several ways to explain the mental models of students. In this work we present the preliminary results observed in the
Physics III class, from the implementation of relationship maps as a tool for graphic recording which allows us to visualize the final mental models of the students. Those relationship maps that the students managed to build and reconstruct after various exchanges with the teaching team and with their peers. In these records, the students `thinking can be made visible, the enrichment of their initial relationship maps, the modifications made, all are the product of their mental models` modifications. Relationship maps have also been a convenient tool for evaluating, while the students were building the maps it was possible for us to identify some relationships or misconceptions, and later organize an individual and/or group discussion.