Enhancing chemistry students’ ability to classify and name aliphatic organic compounds using molecular models.

Abstract

This study was designed to enhance EPC Mawuko Girls‟ SHS 2 Home Economics students‟ understanding of the classification, naming and writing of the structures of aliphatic organic compounds using molecular models. It was also intended to find out the students‟ views on the use of molecular models in teaching the structural formulae and naming of aliphatic organic compounds. The study was a case study design using the action research approach. The sample for the study was forty-five (45) second year chemistry students in an intact class using purposive sampling technique. Achievement tests (pre-intervention and post-intervention tests), informal interview and questionnaire were used as data collecting instruments and the intervention tool used were the molecular model kits. The instruments were pilot –tested to establish the reliability coefficient and were validated by the research supervisor in the Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba as well as two other experienced chemistry teachers in EPC Mawuko Girls‟ SHS, Ho. The scores obtained from the achievement tests were analysed using Excel spread sheet and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 to find out the level of achievement of students after the intervention. Overall findings of the study showed among others that the students had difficulties in classifying, naming and writing of the structural formulae of aliphatic organic compounds. There was significant improvement in the performance of students after the intervention as they performed better in the post-intervention test than the preintervention test; the students had an overall positive perception concerning the use of molecular models as an instructional material in the learning of classification, naming and writing of the structural formulae of aliphatic organic compounds. It was recommended among others that interested researchers could conduct research into the relative effectiveness of molecular model kits in the naming of inorganic compounds at the SHS level.