Clash of Chemists: A gamified blog to master the concept of limiting reagent stoichiometry

First Year Undergraduate; General, Analogies; Transfer, Collaborative; Cooperative Learning, Communication; Writing, Internet; Web-Based Learning, Stoichiometry

Abstract :

[en] In a first-year university course, students experienced a new learning activity (“Clash of Chemists”) prompting them to create and share personal analogies explaining the difference between stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric reaction conditions, also known in literature as "limiting reagent stoichiometry". To support students’ commitment to this unusual assignment, the instructional design drew on a blog enriched with game mechanics (tournament, video rewards, and leaderboard), as found in popular mini-games. The paper reports on the activity’s outputs and on participants’ perceptions of its usability, usefulness and generated satisfaction. Overall students’ reception of this mini-game was positive. A significant difference between players and non-players’ end-of-term exam results was highlighted.

Disciplines :

Education & instruction
Chemistry

Author, co-author :

le Maire, Nathalie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Chimie des agro-biosystèmes

Verpoorten, Dominique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > IFRES : Pédagogie de l'Enseignement supérieur

Fauconnier, Marie-Laure ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Agronomie, Bio-ingénierie et Chimie (AgroBioChem) > Chimie des agro-biosystèmes

Colaux, Catherine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Décanat (GxABT)

Language :

English

Title :

Clash of Chemists: A gamified blog to master the concept of limiting reagent stoichiometry

Publication date :

08 February 2018

Journal title :

Journal of Chemical Education

ISSN :

0021-9584

eISSN :

1938-1328

Publisher :

Norbert J. Pienta

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://pubs.acs.org/toc/jceda8/current

Commentary :

Manuscript ID : ed-2017-00256h.R3

Available on ORBi :

since 10 February 2018

Statistics

Number of views

461 (54 by ULiège)

Number of downloads

982 (20 by ULiège)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenAlex citations

Bibliography

Prensky, M. Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning; Corwin: Thousand Oaks, CA, 2012.
Educating the Net Generation. Educational Leadership; Oblinger, D. G., Oblinger, J. L., Eds.; Educause: Louisville, CO, 2005; Vol. 56. https://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/pub7101m.pdf (accessed Dec 2017).
Veen, W.; Vrakking, B. Homo Zappiens: Growing Up in a Digital Age; Network Continuum Education: London, UK, 2006.
Stein, J. Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation. Time Magazine; May 20, 2013. http://time.com/247/millennials-the-me-me-me-generation/?iid=sr-link1 (accessed Dec 2017).
Weiler, A. Information-seeking behavior in generation Y students: Motivation, critical thinking, and learning theory. Journal of Academic Librarianship 2005, 31 (1), 46-53, 10.1016/j.acalib.2004.09.009
Prensky, M. Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon 2001, 9 (5), 1-6, 10.1108/10748120110424816
Gabel, D. L. Use of the Particle Nature of Matter in Developing Conceptual Understanding. J. Chem. Educ. 1993, 70 (3), 193-194, 10.1021/ed070p193
Coll, R. K.; Ali, S.; Bonato, J.; Rohindra, D. Investigating First-Year Chemistry Learning Difficulties in the South Pacific: A Case Study from Fiji. Int. J. Sci. Math. Educ. 2006, 4 (3), 365-390, 10.1007/s10763-005-9007-6
Haim, L.; Cortón, E.; Kocmur, S.; Galagovsky, L. Learning Stoichiometry with Hamburger Sandwiches. J. Chem. Educ. 2003, 80 (9), 1021-1022, 10.1021/ed080p1021
Gauchon, L.; Méheut, M. Learning about Stoichiometry: From Students' Preconceptions to the Concept of Limiting Reactant. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 2007, 8 (4), 362, 10.1039/B7RP90012K
Abraham, M. R.; Grzybowski, E. B.; Renner, J. W.; Marek, E. A. Understandings and Misunderstandings of Eighth Graders of Five Chemistry Concepts Found in Textbooks. J. Res. Sci. Teach. 1992, 29 (2), 105-120, 10.1002/tea.3660290203
Huddle, P. A.; Pillay, A. E. An in-Depth Study of Misconceptions in Stoichiometry and Chemical Equilibrium at a South African University. J. Res. Sci. Teach. 1996, 33 (1), 65-77, 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199601)33:1<65::AID-TEA4>3.0.CO;2-N
Laugier, A.; Dumon, A. Travaux Pratiques En Chimie et Réprésentation de La Réaction Chimique Par L'équation-Bilan Dans Les Registres Macroscopique et Microscopique: Une Étude En Classe de Seconde (15-16 Ans). Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 2000, 1 (1), 61-75, 10.1039/A9RP90007A
Goodstein, M. P. Reflections upon Mathematics in the Introductory Chemistry Course. J. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60 (8), 665-667, 10.1021/ed060p665
Sheehan, M. Identification of Difficult Topics in the Teaching and Learning of Chemistry in Irish Schools and the Development of an Intervention Programme to Target Some of These Difficulties. PhD Thesis, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 2010. https://chemistrynetwork.pixel-online.org/SMO-database-scheda.php?art-id=21 (accessed Dec 2017).
Talanquer, V. Threshold Concepts in Chemistry: The Critical Role of Implicit Schemas. J. Chem. Educ. 2015, 92, 3-9, 10.1021/ed500679k
Cousin, G. An Introduction to Threshold Concepts. Planet 2006, (17), 4-5, 10.11120/plan.2006.00170004
Gafoor, K. A.; Shilna, V. Chemistry Instruction through Analogies. Presented at the National Seminar on Emerging Trends in Education at the Department of Education; University of Calicut: Kerala, India, November 11-12, 2012. https://sites.google.com/site/gafooredn/home/seminars/chemistry-instruction-through-analogies (accessed Dec 2017).
Hill, J. W.; Petrucci, R. H.; McCreary, T. W.; Perry, S. S. Chimie Générale; Mayer, P., Translator; Editions du Renouveau Pédagogique Inc.: Montréal, Canada, 2008.
Duit, R. On the Role of Analogies and Metaphors in Learning Science. Sci. Educ. 1991, 75 (6), 649-672, 10.1002/sce.3730750606
Brown, D. E.; Clement, J. Overcoming Misconceptions via Analogical Reasoning: Abstract Transfer versus Explanatory Model Construction. Instr. Sci. 1989, 18 (4), 237-261, 10.1007/BF00118013
Verpoorten, D.; Poumay, M.; Leclercq, D. The Eight Learning Events Model: A Pedagogic Conceptual Tool Supporting Diversification of Learning Methods. Interact. Learn. Environ. 2007, 15 (2), 151-160, 10.1080/10494820701343694
Leslie, P.; Murphy, E. Post-Secondary Students' Purposes for Blogging. Int. Rev. Res. Open Distance Learn. 2008, 9 (3). DOI: 10.19173/irrodl.v9i3.560.
Deterding, S.; Sicart, M.; Nacke, L.; O'Hara, K.; Dixon, D. Gamification. Using Game-Design Elements in Non-Gaming Contexts. Proc. 2011 Annu. Conf. Ext. Abstr. Hum. Factors Comput. Syst.-CHI EA '11 2011, 2425-2428, 10.1145/1979742.1979575
Järvelä, S.; Volet, S. Motivation in Real-Life, Dynamic, and Interactive Learning Environments: Stretching Constructs and Methodologies. Eur. Psychol. 2004, 9 (4), 193-197, 10.1027/1016-9040.9.4.193
Sung, H.-Y.; Hwang, G.-J. A Collaborative Game-Based Learning Approach to Improving Students' Learning Performance in Science Courses. Comput. Educ. 2013, 63, 43-51, 10.1016/j.compedu.2012.11.019
Egenfeldt-Nielsen, S. Overview of Research on the Educational Use of Video Games. Digit. Kompet. 2006, 1, 184-213, 10.1353/dia.2006.0003
McFarlane, A.; Sparrowhawk, A.; Heald, Y. Report on the Educational Use of Games; TEEM/DfES: Cambridge, UK, 2002. http://questgarden.com/84/74/3/091102061307/files/teem-gamesined-full.pdf (accessed Dec 2017).
Mitchell, A.; Savill-Smith, C. The Use of Computer and Video Games for Learning: A Review of the Literature; Learning and Skills Development Agency: London, UK, 2004.
Blackboard home page. http://uk.blackboard.com/about-us/index.aspx (accessed Dec 2017).
Bunchball Inc. Gamification 101: An Introduction to the Use of Game Dynamics to Influence Behavior; 2010. Retrieved from http://bunchball.com.
Ryan, R.; Deci, E. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. Contemp. Educ. Psychol. 2000, 25 (1), 54-67, 10.1006/ceps.1999.1020
Spiro, R. J.; Feltovich, P. J.; Coulson, R. L.; Anderson, D. K. Multiple Analogies for Complex Concepts; Antidotes for Analogy-Induced Misconception in Advanced Knowledge Acquisition. In Similarity and Analogical Reasoning; Vosniadou, S., Ortony, A., Eds.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 1989; pp 498-531.
Burguillo, J. C. Using game theory and competition-based learning to stimulate student motivation and performance. Comput. Educ. 2010, 55 (2), 566-575, 10.1016/j.compedu.2010.02.018
Lerman, Z. M. Using the Arts To Make Chemistry Accessible to Everybody. J. Chem. Educ. 2003, 80 (11), 1234-1242, 10.1021/ed080p1234
Muntean, C. I. Raising Engagement in E-Learning through Gamification. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Virtual Learning; Vlada, M., Ed.; Editura Universitatii din Bucuresti: Bucharest, Roumanie, 2011; pp 323-329.
Glover, I. Play as You Learn: Gamification as a Technique for Motivating Learners. In Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telemcommunications; Herrington, J., Couros, A., Irvine, V., Eds.; Chesapeake, VA, 2013; pp 1998-2008.