Samtal@SU is pleased to announce the seminar "Semiotic resources in chemistry education" featuring Susanne Wikman, docent in organic chemistry at Linnæus University where she has received awards for her work in undergraduate and postgraduate education. Susanne’s research interests range from metallo-organic chemistry to enzyme catalysis of organic reactions. For the last 10 years she has focused on visual representations in chemistry education.
Date and time: Wednesday 23 October 2019 12:10—13:30
Place: The Arrhenius Laboratories, Svante Arrhenius väg 16 C, room: K433
Register for lunch
Lunch seminar 1210-13 followed by optional informal discussion (samtal) over coffee 13-13:30. To register for the seminar and a sandwich, go to https://doodle.com/poll/4nkw3cm37syfr92y
Abstract
Learning chemistry poses a number of challenges for students. One such challenge
is that chemistry concepts are created using a range of semiotic resources such as
written and spoken words, images, chemical formulae, diagrams, graphs, physical
models, visualizations, gestures etc. Learning chemistry can be seen as a function
of how students are able to interpret and use these specialized semiotic resources.
To demonstrate this, cases in which university students actively engage with molecular models in stereochemistry will be discussed. Here, like much of chemistry, phenomena are microscopic and thus not directly discernible to students. I demonstrate how, by moving between different semiotic systems, students combine disciplinary convention with their own alternative invention to create resources that they can engage with in a meaningful way.
About Samtal@SU
SAMTAL@SU is the Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning seminar series organised in cooperation with the Department of Mathematics and Science Education and the Centre for the Advancement of University Teaching.
The seminars bring international discipline-based researchers in university science and mathematics education to Stockholm for a lunch presentation followed by the possibility for more informal discussions (samtal). If you are interested in having one of the SAMTAL@SU seminars in your department please contact John Airey and we will be happy to arrange it!
E-mail: john.airey@mnd.su.se
