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National Science Foundation
Experimental Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research

Summer Undergraduate Diversity Research Program

Matt Naderi
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Mark Cracolice
Department of Chemistry

Computer Animation as a Supplement
to the Hands-on Inquiry Lab

Abstract

The overall objective this summer was to design and implement a general chemistry electrochemistry laboratory exercise that utilizes computer animation as a supplement to the hands-on inquiry lab to increase students' conceptual understanding relative to a control that receives a written description of the same information. In addition to a literature review, design will involve pre- and post-tests for measuring students' ability to understand electrochemical concepts. A quantitative outcome measure of electrochemical conceptual knowledge will be supplemented with qualitative interviews to better understand the differences between the control and experimental groups.

Our hypothesis is that students who view the animation will form a more accurate mental model of an electrochemical cell than students who receive the same information in written form. Expected outcomes are fewer misconceptions on a written test of conceptual understanding of electrochemical cells and a greater ability to verbally explain the particulate-level processes that occur in such a cell.

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