Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory
A group theory course for chemists was taught entirely with process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) to facilitate alternative strategies for learning. Students completed a test of one aspect of visuospatial aptitude to determine their individual approaches to solving spatial tasks, and were...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
American Chemical Society
2013
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36548 |
| _version_ | 1848754800716414976 |
|---|---|
| author | Southam, Daniel Lewis, J. |
| author_facet | Southam, Daniel Lewis, J. |
| author_sort | Southam, Daniel |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | A group theory course for chemists was taught entirely with process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) to facilitate alternative strategies for learning. Students completed a test of one aspect of visuospatial aptitude to determine their individual approaches to solving spatial tasks, and were sorted into groups for analysis on the basis of their aptitude. Affective constructs from self-determination theory relating to motivation were also assessed. Students without strong visuospatial skills found the activities more interesting and enjoyable than students who could successfully complete spatial tasks. Equally successful outcomes were observed on an assessment task, irrespective of visuospatial aptitude of the student. This illustrates that a pedagogy structured around multiple strategies for reasoning can successfully support alternative approaches to abstract concepts, such as chemical applications of group theory. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:46:10Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-36548 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:46:10Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | American Chemical Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-365482018-12-14T01:00:29Z Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory Southam, Daniel Lewis, J. inorganic chemistry group theory/symmetry inquiry-based/discovery learning collaborative/cooperative learning physical chemistry graduate education/research chemical education research upper-division undergraduate A group theory course for chemists was taught entirely with process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) to facilitate alternative strategies for learning. Students completed a test of one aspect of visuospatial aptitude to determine their individual approaches to solving spatial tasks, and were sorted into groups for analysis on the basis of their aptitude. Affective constructs from self-determination theory relating to motivation were also assessed. Students without strong visuospatial skills found the activities more interesting and enjoyable than students who could successfully complete spatial tasks. Equally successful outcomes were observed on an assessment task, irrespective of visuospatial aptitude of the student. This illustrates that a pedagogy structured around multiple strategies for reasoning can successfully support alternative approaches to abstract concepts, such as chemical applications of group theory. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36548 10.1021/ed400063t American Chemical Society restricted |
| spellingShingle | inorganic chemistry group theory/symmetry inquiry-based/discovery learning collaborative/cooperative learning physical chemistry graduate education/research chemical education research upper-division undergraduate Southam, Daniel Lewis, J. Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title | Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title_full | Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title_fullStr | Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title_short | Supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| title_sort | supporting alternative strategies for learning chemical applications of group theory |
| topic | inorganic chemistry group theory/symmetry inquiry-based/discovery learning collaborative/cooperative learning physical chemistry graduate education/research chemical education research upper-division undergraduate |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36548 |