Using micro chemistry equipment activities to improve undergraduate teacher-trainees’ conceptions of selected inorganic chemistry topics

Abstract

The study was aimed at improving on 48 teacher-trainees‟ concepts in an introductory inorganic chemistry course through practical micro chemistry equipment (MCE) activities and curriculum materials. These materials were validated through scrutiny by experts in Chemistry Education, trials in a comparable institution and Kuder Richardson‟s formula, KR-20. Some of the topics which were covered in the study were the nature of solutions, chemical stoichiometry, balancing of equations, periodicity and hybridisation. A practical approach to instruction was adopted while using MCE as an interventive tool. The study was an action research. Data were collected from an intact class of 48 regular first year chemistry teacher-trainees at the University of Education, Winneba, by means of a two-tiered diagnostic concept test, classroom lessons and MCE-activities during chemistry periods. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and observation schedules were employed to triangulate the data. There was also an evaluation of students‟ acquired skills in the use of the micro-chemistry equipment as they were trained in the use of MCE, which they could access readily and handle without fear of damage. The activities were also to imbue them with the skills of using the MCEs to design more authentic chemistry practical activities when they move to the schools as classroom teachers. Students were expected to gain concept, process and laboratory skills. From the study, it was found that the MCE approach enhanced practical skills acquisition and chemistry concept formation. The implications of the results for the teaching and learning of chemistry concepts are that teaching through the MCE-concept approach has the potential to change the way chemistry is taught and learned in a more interactive, exciting, simple and easy way. In addition, MCE activities developed in this study would be feasible for use in other institutions of learning.