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Students' Experiences of Teachers' Ways of Unpacking Visual Representations in the Context of Intermolecular Forces

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Title: Students' Experiences of Teachers' Ways of Unpacking Visual Representations in the Context of Intermolecular Forces
Language: English
Authors: Emelie Patron (ORCID 0000-0002-9193-943X), Cedric Linder (ORCID 0000-0001-6409-5182), Jonathan Clark, Susanne Wikman (ORCID 0000-0001-9810-5561)
Source: Science Education. 2026 110(4):1133-1151.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Student Experience, Student Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Science Instruction, Visual Aids, Scientific Concepts, Molecular Structure, Semiotics, Introductory Courses, Science Education, Secondary School Science, Secondary School Students, Chemistry, Science Teachers, Photography, Lesson Plans
DOI: 10.1002/sce.70062
ISSN: 0036-8326
1098-237X
Abstract: This is the third article in a series, emanating from a project that used social semiotics and phenomenography to explore the role visual representations play in the teaching and learning of chemistry. Building on our earlier work that identified five qualitatively different ways that teachers may use to unpack visual representations in their introductory classes at upper secondary school when dealing with intermolecular forces, this article deals with how students describe their experience of chemistry teachers' unpacking of visual representations. The theoretical thematic analysis, grounded in phenomenography and social semiotics, foregrounds qualitative differences in students' experiences of teachers' representational work. The results show that the ways of unpacking that we previously characterized as student-centered were described by the students as being particularly valuable. Here, a key point from a student perspective is that the teacher reflects on how to verbally guide them through the unpacking process in ways that support them in their meaning-making. We use these results to propose that chemistry teacher practice and education can be modified to emphasize the importance of seeing the practice of unpacking from a semiotic perspective. Furthermore, based on our findings and previous research in the chemistry education field, we conclude by suggesting a strategy that can be used in teacher education and by in-service teachers as a basis for planning chemistry lessons and reflecting on them, particularly with respect to the visual representations employed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508444
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emelie+Patron%22">Emelie Patron</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9193-943X">0000-0002-9193-943X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cedric+Linder%22">Cedric Linder</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6409-5182">0000-0001-6409-5182</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonathan+Clark%22">Jonathan Clark</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susanne+Wikman%22">Susanne Wikman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9810-5561">0000-0001-9810-5561</externalLink>)
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: This is the third article in a series, emanating from a project that used social semiotics and phenomenography to explore the role visual representations play in the teaching and learning of chemistry. Building on our earlier work that identified five qualitatively different ways that teachers may use to unpack visual representations in their introductory classes at upper secondary school when dealing with intermolecular forces, this article deals with how students describe their experience of chemistry teachers' unpacking of visual representations. The theoretical thematic analysis, grounded in phenomenography and social semiotics, foregrounds qualitative differences in students' experiences of teachers' representational work. The results show that the ways of unpacking that we previously characterized as student-centered were described by the students as being particularly valuable. Here, a key point from a student perspective is that the teacher reflects on how to verbally guide them through the unpacking process in ways that support them in their meaning-making. We use these results to propose that chemistry teacher practice and education can be modified to emphasize the importance of seeing the practice of unpacking from a semiotic perspective. Furthermore, based on our findings and previous research in the chemistry education field, we conclude by suggesting a strategy that can be used in teacher education and by in-service teachers as a basis for planning chemistry lessons and reflecting on them, particularly with respect to the visual representations employed.
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