DYNAMIC VISUALIZATION IN THE VIRTUAL LABORATORY ENHANCES THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF CHEMICAL CONCEPTS

The most effective basic method when acquiring chemistry knowledge is the experimental and laboratory work. Allowing students and pupils to ‘experience’ science through various forms of carefully designed practical work including experimentation, is often claimed to support their learning and motivate their engagement whilst fulfilling specific curriculum requirements; indeed, they may only perceive changes at the macroscopic level by ‘hands-on’ experimental work. Pupils’ abilities to use the macroscopic, submicroscopic and symbolic representations are essential for understanding related concepts and phenomena. In the teaching and learning of concepts in natural science, it is important to connect the macroscopic, submicroscopic and the symbolic levels in the minds of pupils (Johnstone, 1991; Devetak & Glažar, 2010; Chittleborough, 2014). The starting point for an understanding of concepts in chemistry is their macroscopic manifestation which we can perceive with our senses. An explanation of macroscopic observation and the interconnected concepts derives from an understanding of the submicroscopic and the fact that matter is built of particles. Macroscopic observations and submicroscopic representations can also be translated and understood symbolically, namely as the formulae of elements and compounds, the symbols and notation of chemical changes in the form of equations and other schematic and graphical presentations. At the same time, experimental work in the classroom is crucial in the perception of the macroscopic and exerts a strong impact on the motivation of pupils; accordingly, it plays an important integral part in the teaching and understanding chemistry. Through experiments pupils learn about the physical and chemical properties of substances, develop their skills of observation and description of chemical processes, enhance and strengthen their knowledge, as well as acquire manual dexterity and abilities to undertake safe experimentation, from which an investigative approach to research derives. DYnAMIC VIsUALIZAtIon In tHe VIRtUAL LABoRAtoRY enHAnCes tHe FUnDAMentAL UnDeRstAnDInG oF CHeMICAL ConCePts

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