Use of chemistry software to teach and assess model-based reaction and equation knowledge

This study investigated the challenges students face when learning chemical reactions in a first-year chemistry course and the effectiveness of a curriculum and software implementation that was used to teach and assess student understanding of chemical reactions and equations. This study took place...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Pyatt, Kevin
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2099/16280
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2099/16280
https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jotse.110
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chemistry--Study and teaching
Chemistry--Software.
Chemistry
Reactions
Chemistry teaching
Reaction-types
Reaction master
Química -- Ensenyament secundari
Química -- Ensenyament -- Programes d'ordinador
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química
Descripción
Sumario:This study investigated the challenges students face when learning chemical reactions in a first-year chemistry course and the effectiveness of a curriculum and software implementation that was used to teach and assess student understanding of chemical reactions and equations. This study took place over a two year period in a public suburban high-school, in southwestern USA. Two advanced placement (AP) chemistry classes participated, referred to here as study group A (year 1), N = 14; and study group B (year 2), N = 21. The curriculum for a first-year chemistry course (group A) was revised to include instruction on reaction-types. The second year of the study involved the creation and implementation of a software solution which promoted mastery learning of reaction-types. Students in both groups benefited from the reaction-type curriculum and achieved proficiency in chemical reactions and equations. The findings suggest there was an added learning benefit to using the reaction-type software solution. This study also found that reaction knowledge was a moderate to strong predictor of chemistry achievement. Based on regression analysis, reaction knowledge significantly predicted chemistry achievement for both groups.