Skip to Main Content
Skip Nav Destination

Chemistry is a highly theoretical discipline that builds explanations of the material world with a wide array of abstract concepts. This chapter explores techniques for helping learners to understand the nature of abstract chemical concepts. The key issue is how teachers can effectively communicate an abstract idea that cannot be simply and directly shown to learners. It considers the presentation of chemistry in teaching, given the teacher’s key task starts with making the unfamiliar familiar. This chapter considers the role of models and representations, including simulations, as well as language (e.g., analogies) and the notion of multi-modal teaching. Using models and other representations is often essential in teaching abstract ideas, but they can be interpreted as, and so misunderstood as, realistic accounts by learners. So, this chapter argues for the need for making the chemistry classroom an epistemologically sophisticated learning environment where learners appreciate the roles of models and representations as useful tools in scientific thinking, as well as tools to support learning.

You do not currently have access to this chapter, but see below options to check access via your institution or sign in to purchase.
Don't already have an account? Register
Close Modal

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal