Anahita Bordbar - SAMA Technical and Vocational Training College, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran
Ali Bardideh - Academic Center of Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Khuzestan Branch, Iran

Mind mapping is a technique that can help students become a more effective English learner. A mind-map is made based on radiant thinking, a concept which describes how the human brain processes various ideas and information that are associated to each other through relationship hooks. The purposes of this study were to investigate whether a relationship existed between mind mapping and critical thinking, as measured by the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT), investigate whether a relationship existed between mind mapping and recall of domain-based information, and assess student learning style with the Gregorc Style Delineator (GSD). A sample of 110 first-year medical students was assigned to a standard note taking (SNT) group or mind map (MM) group. Subjects were administered a demographic survey, GSD, and pre-HSRT. Results showed that Mind mapping was not found to increase short-term recall of domain-based information, or critical thinking, when compared to standard note taking. However, a brief introduction to mind mapping did allow novice mind map subjects to perform similarly to subjects experienced with standard note taking students.

Mind Map Learning Strategy, Critical Thinking, Medical Students, Standard Note Taking