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Improving Students' Understanding of Molecular Structure through Broad-Based Use of Computer Models in the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Lecture

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Title: Improving Students' Understanding of Molecular Structure through Broad-Based Use of Computer Models in the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Lecture
Language: English
Authors: Springer, Michael T.
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. Aug 2014 91(8):1162-1168.
Availability: Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2014
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Undergraduate Study, College Science, Organic Chemistry, Molecular Structure, Scientific Concepts, Computer Uses in Education, Models, Lecture Method, Educational Technology, Multimedia Instruction, Introductory Courses, Visual Stimuli, Experimental Groups, Control Groups, Comparative Analysis
DOI: 10.1021/ed400054a
ISSN: 0021-9584
Abstract: Several articles suggest how to incorporate computer models into the organic chemistry laboratory, but relatively few papers discuss how to incorporate these models broadly into the organic chemistry lecture. Previous research has suggested that "manipulating" physical or computer models enhances student understanding; this study demonstrates that by "simply viewing" the appropriate manipulations performed by an educator on a computer model during a recitation period, students in both semesters of introductory organic chemistry performed significantly better on a post-test measuring understanding of molecular structure than those who did not view the computer models (OCHEM 1, p = 0.005, d = 0.98; OCHEM 2, p = 0.035, d = 0.75). The post-test results were also analyzed by topic: the topics that displayed the most significant differences in student scores were bond angle (OCHEM 1, p = 0.0003, d = 1.28; OCHEM 2, p = 0.03, d = 0.77) and 3-D properties (OCHEM 1, p = 0.06, d = 0.64; OCHEM 2, p = 0.04, d = 0.72), such as chirality and conformation. While having a dedicated computer laboratory and software for student use might be too costly for some institutions, displaying computer models during lecture is an inexpensive way to achieve significant gains in students' understanding of molecular structure.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 34
Entry Date: 2014
Accession Number: EJ1036338
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
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  Data: Several articles suggest how to incorporate computer models into the organic chemistry laboratory, but relatively few papers discuss how to incorporate these models broadly into the organic chemistry lecture. Previous research has suggested that "manipulating" physical or computer models enhances student understanding; this study demonstrates that by "simply viewing" the appropriate manipulations performed by an educator on a computer model during a recitation period, students in both semesters of introductory organic chemistry performed significantly better on a post-test measuring understanding of molecular structure than those who did not view the computer models (OCHEM 1, p = 0.005, d = 0.98; OCHEM 2, p = 0.035, d = 0.75). The post-test results were also analyzed by topic: the topics that displayed the most significant differences in student scores were bond angle (OCHEM 1, p = 0.0003, d = 1.28; OCHEM 2, p = 0.03, d = 0.77) and 3-D properties (OCHEM 1, p = 0.06, d = 0.64; OCHEM 2, p = 0.04, d = 0.72), such as chirality and conformation. While having a dedicated computer laboratory and software for student use might be too costly for some institutions, displaying computer models during lecture is an inexpensive way to achieve significant gains in students' understanding of molecular structure.
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