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Abstract
Organic chemistry is often regarded as a difficult subject which deters learners and is associated with poor performance. Our research aims to examine some of the challenges that students face in learning organic chemistry topics related to acid/base and resonance structures theories. For this purpose, organic chemistry exams were analyzed in regards to these troublesome topics. A questionnaire was administered to further understand some of the challenges students face when enrolled in organic chemistry. Our data show that students face several challenges learning these topics and that there is a need to change the way these topics are addressed in instruction.
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References
- V. Barker and R. Millar, International Journal of Science Education, 22, 1171-1200, 2000.
- G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 68(5), 385-388, 1991.
- J. D. Bradley and M. Brand, Journal of Chemical Education, 62(4), 318-319, 1985.
- G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 63(10), 873-878, 1986.
- A. O’ Dwyer and P. Childs, Journal of Chemical Education, 91(7), 987-993, 2014.
- A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 7, 75-83, 1991.
- A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Chemical Education, 61(10), 847-849, 1984.
- M. K. Seery, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 3, 227-232, 2009.
- E. W. Jenkins, E. W. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 24(3), 22-246, 1992.
- A. H. Johnstone, Chemistry Education: Research and Practice in Europe, 1(1), 9-15, 2000.
- H. K. Boo, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(5), 569-581, 1998.
- J. R. T. Cassels and A. H. Johnstone, Words That Matter in Science. Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1985.
- D. Selepeng and A. H. Johnstone, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2, 19-29, 2001.
- D. L. Gabel, Journal of Chemical Education, 76(4), 548-554, 1999.
- Cassels, J.R.T.; Johnstone, A.H. Understanding of Non-Technical Words in Science. London: The Chemical Society, 1980.
- R. White, Learning Science, Basil Blackwell, Oxford,1988.
- J. R. T. Cassels, and A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Chemical Education, 61(7), 613-615, 1984.
- M. R. Abraham, E. B. Grzybowski, J. W. Renner, and E. A. Marek, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29(2), 105-120, 1992.
- M. R. Abraham, V. M. Williamson, and S. L. Westbrook, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 31(2), 147-165, 1994.
- M. B. Nakhleh, Journal of Chemical Education, 69(3), 191-196, 1992.
- A. H. Johnstone and N.C. Kellett, Education in Chemistry, 11, 111-114, 1974.
- A. H. Johnstone and N. C. Kellett, European Journal of Science Education, 2(2), 175-181, 1980.
- N. J. Entwistle, J. Thompson, and J. D. Wilson, Higher Education, 3, 379-396, 1974.
- R. J. Vallerand and R. Bissonnette, Journal of Personality, 60, 599- 620, 1992.
- A. Hofstein and R. F. Kempa, European Journal of Science Education, 7(3), 221-229, 1985.
- S. E. Lewis, Journal of Chemical Education, 88(6), 703-707, 2011.
- D. R. Libby, Journal of Chemical Education, 68 (8), 634-637, 1991.
- G. Bhattacharyya, G. and G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 82(9), 1402-1407, 2005.
- L. B. Resnick, Education and Learning to Think. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1987.
- K. Otis, “Metacognition: A valuable aid to understanding for medical students in problem-based learning,” PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2001.
- A. H. Johnstone, R. J. Sleet, and J. F. Vianna., Studies in Higher Education, 19, 77-87, 1994.
- G, Sirhan, C. Gray, A. H. Johnstone, and N. Reid, N. University Chemistry Education, 3(2), 43-47, 1999.
- A. H. Johnstone and H. El-Banna, Education in Chemistry, 23(3), 80-84, 1986.
- E. Skryabina, “Student attitudes to learning physics at school and university levels in Scotland”, PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2000.
- R. Trumper, British Educational Research Journal, 21(4), 505-515, 1995.
References
V. Barker and R. Millar, International Journal of Science Education, 22, 1171-1200, 2000.
G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 68(5), 385-388, 1991.
J. D. Bradley and M. Brand, Journal of Chemical Education, 62(4), 318-319, 1985.
G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 63(10), 873-878, 1986.
A. O’ Dwyer and P. Childs, Journal of Chemical Education, 91(7), 987-993, 2014.
A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 7, 75-83, 1991.
A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Chemical Education, 61(10), 847-849, 1984.
M. K. Seery, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 3, 227-232, 2009.
E. W. Jenkins, E. W. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 24(3), 22-246, 1992.
A. H. Johnstone, Chemistry Education: Research and Practice in Europe, 1(1), 9-15, 2000.
H. K. Boo, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(5), 569-581, 1998.
J. R. T. Cassels and A. H. Johnstone, Words That Matter in Science. Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1985.
D. Selepeng and A. H. Johnstone, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2, 19-29, 2001.
D. L. Gabel, Journal of Chemical Education, 76(4), 548-554, 1999.
Cassels, J.R.T.; Johnstone, A.H. Understanding of Non-Technical Words in Science. London: The Chemical Society, 1980.
R. White, Learning Science, Basil Blackwell, Oxford,1988.
J. R. T. Cassels, and A. H. Johnstone, Journal of Chemical Education, 61(7), 613-615, 1984.
M. R. Abraham, E. B. Grzybowski, J. W. Renner, and E. A. Marek, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29(2), 105-120, 1992.
M. R. Abraham, V. M. Williamson, and S. L. Westbrook, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 31(2), 147-165, 1994.
M. B. Nakhleh, Journal of Chemical Education, 69(3), 191-196, 1992.
A. H. Johnstone and N.C. Kellett, Education in Chemistry, 11, 111-114, 1974.
A. H. Johnstone and N. C. Kellett, European Journal of Science Education, 2(2), 175-181, 1980.
N. J. Entwistle, J. Thompson, and J. D. Wilson, Higher Education, 3, 379-396, 1974.
R. J. Vallerand and R. Bissonnette, Journal of Personality, 60, 599- 620, 1992.
A. Hofstein and R. F. Kempa, European Journal of Science Education, 7(3), 221-229, 1985.
S. E. Lewis, Journal of Chemical Education, 88(6), 703-707, 2011.
D. R. Libby, Journal of Chemical Education, 68 (8), 634-637, 1991.
G. Bhattacharyya, G. and G. M. Bodner, Journal of Chemical Education, 82(9), 1402-1407, 2005.
L. B. Resnick, Education and Learning to Think. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1987.
K. Otis, “Metacognition: A valuable aid to understanding for medical students in problem-based learning,” PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2001.
A. H. Johnstone, R. J. Sleet, and J. F. Vianna., Studies in Higher Education, 19, 77-87, 1994.
G, Sirhan, C. Gray, A. H. Johnstone, and N. Reid, N. University Chemistry Education, 3(2), 43-47, 1999.
A. H. Johnstone and H. El-Banna, Education in Chemistry, 23(3), 80-84, 1986.
E. Skryabina, “Student attitudes to learning physics at school and university levels in Scotland”, PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2000.
R. Trumper, British Educational Research Journal, 21(4), 505-515, 1995.