Back to Search
Start Over
Heuristics Hindering the Development of Understanding of Molecular Structures in University Level Chemistry Education: The Lewis Structure as an Example
- Source :
- Education Sciences, Volume 11, Issue 6, Education Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 258, p 258 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Understanding chemical models can be challenging for many university students studying chemistry. This study analysed students’ understanding of molecular structures using the Lewis structure as a model, and examined what hinders their understanding. We conducted pre- and post-tests to analyse students’ conceptions and changes in them. The measures contained multiple-choice questions and drawing tasks testing their understanding of concepts, such as polarity, geometry, charge or formal charge and expanded octet. The pre-test revealed a lack of knowledge and several misconceptions in students’ prior knowledge. For example, the concept of polarity was well-known, but the combination of polarity and geometry appeared to be difficult. For some students, the representation of molecules was intuitive and lacking a systematic approach. Certain students used mnemonics and draw ball-and-stick models connected to surficial representations. After the chemistry courses, the conceptions and drawings had generally changed, and the level of the students’ knowledge increased markedly. Although, fewer ball-and-stick models were drawn in the post-test, some students still used them. The main result was that students who drew ball-and-stick models in the pre-test were less capable of drawing the correct Lewis structures with electrons in the post-test. In addition, heuristics seem to hinder learning and some concepts, such as resonance, remained difficult. This is probably due to the fact that understanding molecular structures requires systemic understanding, where several matters must be understood at the same time. Our study highlights that the understanding of molecular structures requires conceptual change related to several sub-concepts.
- Subjects :
- Public Administration
Chemistry education
Polarity (physics)
MODELS
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
STUDENTS
Mnemonic
01 natural sciences
Education
Lewis structure
TEXT
Ball-and-stick model
symbols.namesake
SCIENCE-EDUCATION
problem-solving
CONCEPTUAL CHANGE
0103 physical sciences
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Computer Science (miscellaneous)
Mathematics education
Chemistry (relationship)
critical thinking
university students
010306 general physics
ball-and-stick model
CHALLENGES
4. Education
05 social sciences
050301 education
ANOMALOUS DATA
Conceptual change
general learning theories
FRAMEWORK
Computer Science Applications
systemic understanding
symbols
BALL
516 Educational sciences
MISCONCEPTIONS
Psychology
Heuristics
0503 education
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Education Sciences, Volume 11, Issue 6, Education Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 258, p 258 (2021)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....03ced6dabd1d3df199547bd0c38916ee