The particulate nature of matter

Viac o knihe

The historic Particle Concept in chemistry and the Kinetic Molecular Theory focus on the particles that make up matter. Research indicates that many students lack a clear mental model that all substances consist of small particles, often confusing the continuous and particulate views even after instruction. To address this issue, a new teaching-learning strategy called Tetrahedral - in - Zone of Proximal Development (T-ZPD) was developed. This strategy was tested in an experimental group and compared to a traditional approach in a control group, examining its impact on students’ misconceptions and conceptual understanding. Conducted in junior high school chemistry classes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the study involved 366 students. The Particulate Nature of Matter - Concept Inventory (PNM-CI) was administered as pre and post tests, along with interviews of selected students. Results from independent t-tests indicated that students in the T-ZPD group demonstrated significantly better conceptual understanding of the scientific concepts compared to those in the traditional group across all contexts examined. The study recommends incorporating the Particulate Nature of Matter into structural models and model drawings in future chemistry lessons to enhance students' scientific comprehension of substances and chemical reactions.