ICLS 2000 Proceedings

 

Computerized Molecular Modeling: Enhancing Meaningful Chemistry Learning

Yehudit Judy Dori
Center for Educational Computing Initiatives
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA 2139-4307, USA
Fax: 617-253-8632
Email: dori@ceci.mit.edu

Miri Barak
Department of Education in Technology and Science
Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
Haifa 32000, Israel
Fax: 972-4-8325445
Email: bmiriam@techunix.technion.ac.il

Abstract: Model perception and understanding the spatial structure of organic molecules has been a source of difficulty for many chemistry students. To alleviate these problems we have introduced an innovative teaching/learning approach that employs a combination of virtual and physical models in an organic high school chemistry curriculum. We studied the effect of this approach on enhancing meaningful learning in chemistry. Experimental group students were more capable of defining and implementing new concepts in organic chemistry than their control group counterparts. When required to explain their answers, most of the experimental group students used mainly sketches of ball-and-stick models and some space-filling models. Experimental group students understood the model concept better and were more capable of applying transformation from one-dimensional to two- or three-dimensional molecular representations and vice versa.

Keywords: modeling/models, visualization, learning environment, science education

 

Preferred Citation Format:
Dori, Y., & Barak, M. (2000). Computerized Molecular Modeling: Enhancing Meaningful Chemistry Learning. In B. Fishman & S. O'Connor-Divelbiss (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference of the Learning Sciences (pp. 185-192). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

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