Visualizing chemistry - IT-based learning in chemistry education

Abstract

Learning chemistry is often difficult for students regarding the contents of this natural science. The reason behind this is mostly the degree of abstraction which is necessary to understand the procedures and invisible functional backgrounds of macroscopic processes. Until now this problem has been approached by using pre-built and fixed chemical models and chemical language without subject-specific meaning unknown to the student. To counter this unsatisfying situation it is necessary to find a new way to teach chemistry. In modern society the use of new media like PCs, Tablet-PCs and Smartphones is very common among today´s students, and thus it is necessary and absolutely essential to implement those media in modern education. Using these media as a supplement of education is nothing new, but using it as an integrated component in educational training with a whole new form of teaching is a big challenge. The students have to acquire professional (chemical) expertise in combination with media skills as well, not only in chemistry lessons but interdisciplinary with other subjects like Information-Technology or Art. The aim of a project dealing with these needs and requirements is highlighting the inclusion of all aspects of new media in chemistry education and conveyance of skills to depict chemical sub-microscopic processes in conjunction with other subjects of school education. The didactics of chemistry of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg is designing an educational programme for students using Tablet-PCs, PCs and art materials which let students literally see chemical processes with self-made models, drawings, 3D-models rendered with CAD-programs, role-playings, blogs for exchanging ideas and data, self-designed virtual and physical experiments, tutorials and presentations.