The on-line animations for the solubility concept acquisition

Abstract

Animations and videos give the opportunity for the content of chemistry concerning homogenous mixtures (solutions) to be explained on three levels: microscopic, symbolical and submicroscopic (particle) level. Dissolution is an essential concept for understanding the properties of substances. Visualisations of the particle structure and interactions between particles are necessary for explaining the notion of dissolution. In this study, we examined the influence of the possibility that students can observe the dissolution animation of substances. Animations and additional explanations were posted on the Internet address that was sent to students. Thirty students individually, as a homework assignment, accessed these contents that were supposed to improve knowledge about the concept of dissolution. Before and after this intervention, the students solved the test with the same questions that related to the concept of dissolution. It can be concluded that the application of set animations and explanations contributed to statistically significantly better results in the test (t = 2.56, p<0.05). More than half of the surveyed students answered that they have never on-line searched for the content of chemistry, but with this approach, they were more interested in contrast to traditional classroom lessons and that this way could help them in the acquisition of the chemical concepts.