ERIC Number: EJ1116237
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1756-1108
EISSN: N/A
Student Oriented Approaches in the Teaching of Thermodynamics at Universities--Developing an Effective Course Structure
Partanen, Lauri
Chemistry Education Research and Practice, v17 n4 p766-787 Oct 2016
The aim of this study was to apply current pedagogical research in order to develop an effective course and exercise structure for a physical chemistry thermodynamics course intended for second or third year university students of chemistry. A mixed-method approach was used to measure the impact the changes had on student learning. In its final form in 2014, the course consisted of lectures following a broken lecture structure that incorporated different kinds of activating learning tasks, and a three-tiered exercise structure including qualitative and quantitative tasks with a large emphasis on collaborative problem-solving. The new lecture and exercise structures improved student learning as measured by students' exercise points, exam results, and, between 2013 and 2014, the results of a conceptual thermodynamics test the students took at the beginning and end of the course. Even though the new exercise structure increased students' motivation, positive affect and satisfaction with the course, in both 2013 and 2014, it was the interactive lecture structure that students reported to be the most beneficial part of the course. In light of these results, this study demonstrates the advantages on student learning of adopting a multifaceted approach to both lectures and exercises.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Thermodynamics, Science Instruction, Chemistry, Undergraduate Students, Lecture Method, Cooperative Learning, Problem Solving, Student Motivation, Student Attitudes, Ethics, Pretests Posttests, Student Centered Learning, Statistical Analysis, Outcomes of Education, Foreign Countries, Mixed Methods Research, Interviews, Universities, Majors (Students)
Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A