Virtual Reality - Learning Chemistry with a New Digital Medium
Contact: Dr. Mareike Frevert, Dennis Stein-Schomburg
Chemistry often deals with objects that we cannot see and therefore cannot ‘experience’ with our senses. This high level of abstraction may pose problems for learners, e.g. in the field of special ability [Barke, 2001]. Today, the virtual reality technique offers a possibility to discover the microcosm of chemistry with its atoms, molecules and processes. It became possible to experience the microcosm sensitively and a study of Smaldone [2017] showed that techniques using virtual reality can help students to understand scientific contexts. Therefore, in our projects, we are developing a learning environment using virtual reality. It focusses on making invisible chemical contents visible and showing chemical processes in the VR-space that are known to provoke students´ misconceptions about chemistry. The learning environments are meant to be tested with learners in order to investigate their usability and effectivity.
See also: VR Learn Lab
Literature
Barke, Hans-Dieter; Engida, Temechegn (2001): Structural Chemistry and spatial ability in different cultures, Chemistry Education: Research and Practice in Europe, Vol 2 (3), 227-239.
Smaldone, Ronald A. et al. (2017): Teaching science through video games, Nature Chemistry, Vol 9, 97-102.