A comparison between lecturers' and students' concept maps related to the input/output topic in computer architecture

The Input/Output topic is mandatory in the Computer Architecture branch of the computing curricula. However. in our experience it is a rather complex topic for students to understand. This paper presents the process followed to produce some concept maps that represent the theory we, as lecturers, would like students to learn, and shows the differences found between these concept maps and the concept maps produced by several representative students selected among the students attending the course during the school year 2011-2012. There is also a comparison made between the scores obtained by these representative students in the exam and the results of the concept maps. Finally, a discussion is proposed. This type of study is new to the researchers and the objective of the discussion is to gather knowledge on how well the research has been developed so far, and how to continue.

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