Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Σύγχρονες Μέθοδοι Διδασκαλίας της ΧημείαςLibrary of the School of Science
Author:
Chrysidou Violetta
Supervisors info:
Ακρίβος Περικλής, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Χημείας, Α.Π.Θ.
Original Title:
Εναλλακτικές αντιλήψεις πρωτοετών φοιτητών όσον αφορά την έννοια του pH
Translated title:
First year undergraduate students' misconceptions of the pH concept
Summary:
A survey is described to which 54 first year undergraduate students studying in the Pharmacy and Geology Departments of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki participated. The study aimed at the quantification of the effects that the General Chemistry course offered during the first semester of studies has on their understanding and assimilation of specific topics.
The survey was carried out during the 2015-16 academic year upon completion of the laboratory experiments that accompany the above course and in the laboratory and includes students who spontaneously responded to the request.
The questionnaire distributed was focused on pH and related concepts since this comprises a topic included in every related course from secondary education and on and specifically, for the two University Departments includes a couple of experiments.
In accordance with analogous studies on secondary school students, sex does not affect chemical concept understanding while the difference between students of the two Departments is mainly attributed to the possibility offered at the time for students who attended the technical course in high school to enter through exams the undergraduate course of Geology, although this technical course does not offer Chemistry classes at all. Furthermore, the lack of understanding of stoicheiometry is evident as well a well documented difficulty most students face dealing with mathematical operations, especially powers.
It is also observed that although some ideas or properties seem to be understood separately, their connection is not always apparent to the students.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
pH, electrolyte solutions, higher education, General Chemistry
