Collaborative activities for solving multi-step problems in general chemistry

Abstract

[EN] The learning of solving mult-step problems is a relevant aim in chemical educaton for engineering students. In these questons, afer analyzing inital data, a complex reasoning and an elaborated mathematcal procedure is needed to achieve the correct numerical answer. However, many students are able to efectvely use algorithms even with a lack of meaningful understanding of involved chemical concepts. This paper reports the applicaton of some collaboratve actons in order to induce a complete acquisiton of problem solving skills. The studied approaches, performed inside and outside the classroom, are classifed in low-collaboratve and highcollaboratve actvites, depending on the relatve partcipaton of instructor/students in their development. The critcal descripton of the proposed methodology and the produced outcomes are exposed. The contributon of each major reasoning mode (model, rule or case based) employed in these actvites is analyzed. Also, the percepton of students is evaluated on the basis on the data provided by direct observaton and a specifc survey with Likert-scale and open-ended questons. The results indicate that the changes of teaching to a more conceptual orientaton lead a deeper understanding, minimizing misconceptons or a rote learning.