introduction
group theory as a branch of mathematics can systematically describe modular properties that are influenced by their three dimensional symmetry this topic often forms part of a senior undergraduate inorganic or physical chemistry curricular where
it is used to explore chemical bonding and vibration spectra the traditional instruction approaches requires rapid manipulation of representation of molecular-scale three dimensional phenomena to apply the principles of group theory and chemically interpret the outcomes
two predominant approaches are thought to be used by student to solve problems in group theory with each approaches heavily influenced by individual aptitude imagine reasoning is the more frequently espoused instructional approaches in which students conceptualize the representation apply an operation and produce the outcomes alternative more cognitive demanding approaches include feature apply a combination of these approaches include feature-based strategies that avoid the intended imagine route expert apply a combination of these approaches and student can use either or both on similar task with equal effective however student without strong visual spatial skill may be a motivated toward these task when multiple student strategies for learning group theory a model pedagogy reliant on multiple modes of reasoning was used process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL)
using measure of an important and a subjective self-report relating to student motivation toward to experience we can address the aim as a result of a student spatial ability are there any observation difference in that student ability and experience in this POGIL group theory classroom