Using touch-screen technology, apps, and blogs to engage and sustain high school students' interest in chemistry topics

Heejoo Kim, Priya Chacko, Jinhui Zhao, Jin Kim Montclare

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

As part of an outreach program, we integrated chemistry apps with blogging to enhance the learning experience of students in and outside the classroom. Our outreach program involved college mentors who participated in the development and implementation of chemistry lessons alongside the classroom teacher. Three technology-rich modules that focused on molecules, balancing equations, and nuclear chemistry were taught to high school students. Feedback-oriented and interactive lessons through apps with blogging were used to engage the students with the instructors as well as their peers. The combination of blogging with interactive apps increased student involvement and sustained their interests in the chemistry topics covered by the modules. The students were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental groups were required to use the blog, where students viewed the questions and uploaded their answers and comments. The control group did not have access to the blog during the modules. Performance, class participation, and interest in STEM fields by the groups were examined. The students received a personalized, interactive learning experience in chemistry, the college mentors gained teaching and mentoring experience, and the teacher received assistance in implementing technology in the classroom.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1818-1822
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Chemical Education
Volume91
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 11 2014

Keywords

  • Communication/Writing
  • High School/Introductory Chemistry
  • Humor/Puzzles/Games
  • Lewis Structures
  • Minorities in Chemistry
  • Multimedia-Based Learning
  • Periodicity/Periodic Table
  • Upper-Division Undergraduate
  • Women in Chemistry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Education

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Using touch-screen technology, apps, and blogs to engage and sustain high school students' interest in chemistry topics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this