This work aims to develop a card sorting task as an assessment for student characterization of molecular structures. Building off the success of previous card sorting tasks for eliciting student interrogation of chemistry ideas, a series of cards containing molecular structures of primarily main-group, inorganic species were created. Recruitment efforts targeted students who were currently enrolled in an advanced inorganic chemistry course and interviews took place after molecular symmetry was introduced. Participants completed the card sorting task in person while being video recorded to allow for better tracking of category creation and population. “Unframed” interviews were conducted without priming the participants of the idea of VSEPR geometries or molecular symmetry to elicit a student’s intuitive response to the task. “Framed” sorts asked students to provide information regarding VSEPR theory, sort the cards, answer questions about molecular symmetry, and then revise their sorts to show the extent context can inform sorting behavior. Sociograms were created in R by running social network analysis on the resulting pairings to visualize any differences among these groups.

Using a card sorting task to characterize student interrogation of molecular structure

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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