Learning Dimensional Analysis through Collaboratively Working with Manipulatives

• Erin K. H. Saitta ^[1] ; Michael J. Gittings ^[1] ; Cherie Geiger ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Central Florida

     University of Central Florida

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 88, Nº 7, 2011, págs. 910-915
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Dimensional analysis is traditionally one of the first topics covered in a general chemistry course. Chemists use dimensional analysis as a tool to keep track of units and guide them through calculations. Although unit conversions are taught in a variety of subjects over several grade levels, many students have not mastered this topic by the time they enter college. To properly equip beginning chemistry students, a collaborative active-learning activity was developed. This article describes the activity and reports data of the effects it had on students’ performance in a first-semester general chemistry course at a large research institution.