Exploring Conceptual Frameworks of Models of Atomic Structures and Periodic Variations, Chemical Bonding, and Molecular Shape and Polarity: A Comparison of Undergraduate General Chemistry Students with High and Low Levels of Content Knowledge

Autor/inn/en	Wang, Chia-Yu; Barrow, Lloyd H.
Titel	Exploring Conceptual Frameworks of Models of Atomic Structures and Periodic Variations, Chemical Bonding, and Molecular Shape and Polarity: A Comparison of Undergraduate General Chemistry Students with High and Low Levels of Content Knowledge
Quelle	In: Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 14 (2013) 1, S.130-146 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1756-1108
DOI	10.1039/C2RP20116J
Schlagwörter	Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Quantum Mechanics; Models; Science Education; Science Instruction; Comparative Analysis; Undergraduate Students; Higher Education; College Science; Interviews + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Chemie; Atomphysik; Kernphysik; Quantenmechanik; Analogiemodell; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik
Abstract	The purpose of the study was to explore students' conceptual frameworks of models of atomic structure and periodic variations, chemical bonding, and molecular shape and polarity, and how these conceptual frameworks influence their quality of explanations and ability to shift among chemical representations. This study employed a purposeful sampling technique and used three diagnostic instruments for conceptual understanding to determine the students' level of content knowledge of the related concepts. Six student interviews were analyzed to portray students' conceptual frameworks in high and low content knowledge (HCK and LCK, respectively) groups. The study's major findings revealed that moving from a high toward a low level of content knowledge, the quality of students' explanations declined, as did their ability to reconcile new information to their existing knowledge frameworks. Three essential concepts--models of atomic structure, effective core charge and principles of electrostatic force, and quantum mechanics descriptions--were identified that may explain students' failure to learn the necessary aspects of molecular geometry and polarity. This study provides empirical evidence of how students' content knowledge influences their understanding about molecular polarity. The findings have implications for college chemistry education with respect to teaching concepts about molecular polarity. (Contains 4 tables and 5 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10