An investigation into chemical engineering students' understanding of the mole and the use of concrete activities to promote conceptual change

Citation
Jm. Case et Dm. Fraser, An investigation into chemical engineering students' understanding of the mole and the use of concrete activities to promote conceptual change, INT J SCI E, 21(12), 1999, pp. 1237-1249
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Education
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
ISSN journal
09500693 → ACNP
Volume
21
Issue
12
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1237 - 1249
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-0693(199912)21:12<1237:AIICES>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
First year chemical engineering students' understanding of the mole was inv estigated and an intervention designed to improve their grasp of this funda mental concept. Students' ideas were initially elicited in a series of grou p interviews. These findings were checked against a multiple-choice test wh ich was developed and administered to the whole class. The intervention com prised a series of activities with a focus on 'tangible objects' which coul d provide students with a visual/experiential point of reference. Both qual itative and quantitative assessments indicated a strong positive effect of the intervention. This approach now forms part of the first year curriculum at the University of Cape Town. Although these students' problems were foc used on the concepts of gmol, lbmol, and kmol, the misconceptions identifie d were found to link strongly to those previously reported in the literatur e for gmol, which suggests a broad applicability of the results obtained.