Chemistry instruction has historically included a lecture
presenting facts, a laboratory with finite expectations, and
practice in mathematical application. There is an abundance of
research that encourages instructors to modify the approach
from dissemination of information to students to guiding students
to a conceptual understanding of chemistry through
exploration of the macroscopic, particulate, and symbolic representations
of chemistry concepts.1,2 Teaching in the latter way
places new requirements on the instructor. First, the instructors
must be aware of the misconceptions that students have about
specific chemistry topics. Bodner3 encourages chemistry instructors
to research the topics and survey student knowledge before
modifying instruction. Teaching methodologies must evolve to
include multiple representations. Yezierski and Birk4 show that
animations are a useful vehicle to help students connect the
macroscopic, particulate, and symbolic representations to support
conceptual understanding. However, the use of animations
is just one way to modify the instructional strategies. Second,
instructors must continuously identify student misconceptions
and find intervention strategies that provide students experience
at the macroscopic, particulate, and symbolic levels while encouraging
student reflection.5