abstract a group theory course for chemist was taught entirely with process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) to facilitate alternative strategies for learning student completed a test of one aspect of visual-spatial aptitude to determine their individual approaches to solving spatial task and were sorted into group for analysis on the basis of their aptitude effective constructs from self-determination theory relating to motivation were also assessed student without strong visual-spatial skills found the activities more interesting and enjoyable than student who could successfully complete spatial task equally successful outcomes were observed on an assessment task irrespective of visual-spatial aptitude of the student the illustrates that a pedagogy structured around multiple strategies for reasoning can successfully support alternative approaches to abstract concept such as chemical application of group theory