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Students' Use of Magnetic Models to Learn Hydrogen Bonding and the Formation of Snowflakes

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Title: Students' Use of Magnetic Models to Learn Hydrogen Bonding and the Formation of Snowflakes
Language: English
Authors: Dewi Ayu Kencana Ungu (ORCID 0000-0002-1890-6017), Mihye Won (ORCID 0000-0001-8771-7626), David F. Treagust (ORCID 0000-0001-5340-0970), Mauro Mocerino (ORCID 0000-0001-9514-7846), Henry Matovu, Chin-Chung Tsai, Roy Tasker
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. 2023 100(7):2504-2519.
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: 16
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Freshmen, Science Instruction, Molecular Structure, Chemistry, Magnets, Manipulative Materials, Comprehension, Concept Formation
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00697
ISSN: 0021-9584
1938-1328
Abstract: Magnetic molecular models help students explore molecular structures and interactions. In this study, we investigated how pairs of students used magnetic models to explore hydrogen bonding and the 6-fold symmetry of snowflakes. Fourteen first-year students enrolled in a chemistry unit participated in pairs. Students' interactions with the magnetic models and their peers were video recorded and later transcribed. Students' hand-drawn diagrams, verbal explanations, and gestures were used to evaluate students' conceptual understanding. Students showed distinctly different patterns of interaction depending on their prior knowledge of hydrogen bonding and how they socially interacted. Pairs with alternative prior understanding of hydrogen bonding relied on prompts while using magnetic models to feel the attraction and repulsion between two water molecules. They then constructed a tetrahedral structure and discussed its similarities with the branches of snowflakes. Pairs with a better understanding of hydrogen bonding interacted more with each other, used magnetic models to create ring structures, and explained their similarities with the 6-fold symmetry of snowflakes. Despite gaining a new understanding of hydrogen bonding, most student pairs' explanations did not extend to the massive 3D expansion of molecular structures to form a snowflake. Educators should consider the affordances of magnetic models and students' group dynamics when teaching molecular interactions to explain macroscopic-level phenomena.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1442483
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Students' Use of Magnetic Models to Learn Hydrogen Bonding and the Formation of Snowflakes
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dewi+Ayu+Kencana+Ungu%22">Dewi Ayu Kencana Ungu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1890-6017">0000-0002-1890-6017</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mihye+Won%22">Mihye Won</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8771-7626">0000-0001-8771-7626</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+F%2E+Treagust%22">David F. Treagust</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5340-0970">0000-0001-5340-0970</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mauro+Mocerino%22">Mauro Mocerino</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9514-7846">0000-0001-9514-7846</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henry+Matovu%22">Henry Matovu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chin-Chung+Tsai%22">Chin-Chung Tsai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roy+Tasker%22">Roy Tasker</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Chemical+Education%22"><i>Journal of Chemical Education</i></searchLink>. 2023 100(7):2504-2519.
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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: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00697
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  Data: 0021-9584<br />1938-1328
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  Data: Magnetic molecular models help students explore molecular structures and interactions. In this study, we investigated how pairs of students used magnetic models to explore hydrogen bonding and the 6-fold symmetry of snowflakes. Fourteen first-year students enrolled in a chemistry unit participated in pairs. Students' interactions with the magnetic models and their peers were video recorded and later transcribed. Students' hand-drawn diagrams, verbal explanations, and gestures were used to evaluate students' conceptual understanding. Students showed distinctly different patterns of interaction depending on their prior knowledge of hydrogen bonding and how they socially interacted. Pairs with alternative prior understanding of hydrogen bonding relied on prompts while using magnetic models to feel the attraction and repulsion between two water molecules. They then constructed a tetrahedral structure and discussed its similarities with the branches of snowflakes. Pairs with a better understanding of hydrogen bonding interacted more with each other, used magnetic models to create ring structures, and explained their similarities with the 6-fold symmetry of snowflakes. Despite gaining a new understanding of hydrogen bonding, most student pairs' explanations did not extend to the massive 3D expansion of molecular structures to form a snowflake. Educators should consider the affordances of magnetic models and students' group dynamics when teaching molecular interactions to explain macroscopic-level phenomena.
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  Data: 2024
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  Data: EJ1442483
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        Value: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00697
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      – SubjectFull: Science Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Molecular Structure
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