ERIC Number: ED443678
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 2000-Apr
Pages: 16
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Promoting Conceptual Understanding of Chemical Representations: Students' Use of a Visualization Tool in the Classroom.
Wu, Hsin-kai; Krajcik, Joseph S.; Soloway, Elliot
This study investigated how students develop their understanding of chemical representations with the aid of a visualizing tool, eChem, that allows them to build molecular models and simultaneously view multiple representations. Multiple sources of data were collected with the participation of high school students (n=71) over a six-week period. The results of the pre- and post-tests show that students' understandings of chemical representations improved substantially. The analysis of video recordings revealed that several features in eChem helped students construct models and translate representations. Findings suggest that models can serve as a vehicle for students to generate mental images, and that different types of 3-D models were not used interchangeably for these students. (Contains 46 references.) (Author/WRM)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Some figures may not reproduce well. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (New Orleans, LA, April 28-May 1, 2000).