Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities

Sanoe Chairam; Nutsuda Klahan; Richard Coll

doi:10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

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Sanoe Chairam ¹ ^* , Nutsuda Klahan ¹, Richard Coll ²

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¹ Ubon Ratchathani University² University of Waikato^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background:
The purpose of this research was to move Thai secondary school students from a passive, teacher-dominated experience to more active, student-centred learning through inquiry-based learning activities.

Materials and methods:
This work used the multiple-choice questions, scientifically practical diagram and questionnaire to assess students’ understanding of chemical kinetics.

Results:
The findings suggest that there was a difference in students’ understanding of chemical kinetics as measured via diagnostic tests. While students made significant progress in drawing concept lists, phrasing scientific questions, identifying variables, designing experiments, presenting data and analyzing results, they showed only some improvement about drawing conclusions in practical classes.

Conclusions:
This more active, student-centred learning seemed to help students enjoy activities and become interested in learning chemical kinetics.

Keywords

inquiry-based chemistry laboratory
student understanding
science process skills
chemical kinetics

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2015, Volume 11, Issue 5, 937-956

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

Publication date: 25 Aug 2015

Article Views: 3464

Article Downloads: 3597

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How to cite this article

APA

Chairam, S., Klahan, N., & Coll, R. (2015). Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(5), 937-956. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

Vancouver

Chairam S, Klahan N, Coll R. Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2015;11(5):937-56. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

AMA

Chairam S, Klahan N, Coll R. Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2015;11(5), 937-956. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

Chicago

Chairam, Sanoe, Nutsuda Klahan, and Richard Coll. "Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2015 11 no. 5 (2015): 937-956. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

Harvard

Chairam, S., Klahan, N., and Coll, R. (2015). Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(5), pp. 937-956. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a

MLA

Chairam, Sanoe et al. "Exploring Secondary Students' Understanding of Chemical Kinetics through Inquiry-Based Learning Activities". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 11, no. 5, 2015, pp. 937-956. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1365a