Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning
Group theory, as a branch of mathematics, can systematically describe molecular properties that are influenced by their three-dimensional symmetry. This topic often forms part of a senior undergraduate chemistry curriculum, where it is used to explore chemical bonding and vibrational spectra. This a...
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| Format: | Conference Paper |
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UniServs Science - University of Sydney
2012
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| Online Access: | http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/index.php/IISME/issue/view/492/showToc http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30767 |
| _version_ | 1848753183889817600 |
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| author | Southam, Daniel Lewis, Jennifer |
| author2 | Manjula Sharma |
| author_facet | Manjula Sharma Southam, Daniel Lewis, Jennifer |
| author_sort | Southam, Daniel |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Group theory, as a branch of mathematics, can systematically describe molecular properties that are influenced by their three-dimensional symmetry. This topic often forms part of a senior undergraduate chemistry curriculum, where it is used to explore chemical bonding and vibrational spectra. This approach requires rapid manipulation of representations of molecular-scale three-dimensional phenomena to apply the principles of group theory and interpret the outcomes. Students utilise spatial reasoning to achieve this manipulation, which is often conceptually challenging. The literature suggests this challenge may confound learning and lead to student disengagement.Spatial reasoning was identified as a desirable attribute of our Chemistry graduates, and integrated into our curriculum. To overcome student disengagement, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) was used as a model pedagogy, where students work through a carefully structured activity in small groups. The paucity of existing materials required development of new POGIL resources, which will be illustrated. An existing instrument, the Purdue test of visualisation of rotations, was used to measure one aspect of spatial reasoning. Using the results of this test, observations from the class and results from student assessment, we can begin to demonstrate how students attain this key attribute. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:20:28Z |
| format | Conference Paper |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-30767 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:20:28Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | UniServs Science - University of Sydney |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-307672023-02-07T08:01:19Z Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning Southam, Daniel Lewis, Jennifer Manjula Sharma Alexandra Yeung group theory Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning spatial reasoning senior undergraduate chemistry Group theory, as a branch of mathematics, can systematically describe molecular properties that are influenced by their three-dimensional symmetry. This topic often forms part of a senior undergraduate chemistry curriculum, where it is used to explore chemical bonding and vibrational spectra. This approach requires rapid manipulation of representations of molecular-scale three-dimensional phenomena to apply the principles of group theory and interpret the outcomes. Students utilise spatial reasoning to achieve this manipulation, which is often conceptually challenging. The literature suggests this challenge may confound learning and lead to student disengagement.Spatial reasoning was identified as a desirable attribute of our Chemistry graduates, and integrated into our curriculum. To overcome student disengagement, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) was used as a model pedagogy, where students work through a carefully structured activity in small groups. The paucity of existing materials required development of new POGIL resources, which will be illustrated. An existing instrument, the Purdue test of visualisation of rotations, was used to measure one aspect of spatial reasoning. Using the results of this test, observations from the class and results from student assessment, we can begin to demonstrate how students attain this key attribute. 2012 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30767 http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/index.php/IISME/issue/view/492/showToc http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/index.php/IISME/article/view/5879/6610 UniServs Science - University of Sydney restricted |
| spellingShingle | group theory Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning spatial reasoning senior undergraduate chemistry Southam, Daniel Lewis, Jennifer Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title | Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title_full | Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title_fullStr | Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title_short | Targeting key student attributes: Using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| title_sort | targeting key student attributes: using pogil in a senior undergraduate class to develop spatial reasoning |
| topic | group theory Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning spatial reasoning senior undergraduate chemistry |
| url | http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/index.php/IISME/issue/view/492/showToc http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/index.php/IISME/issue/view/492/showToc http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30767 |