Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Language Barriers in University Level Chemistry Education

Rees, S.W.; Kind, V.; Newton, D.

doi:10.1002/ijch.201800079

Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Language Barriers in University Level Chemistry Education

Rees, S.W.; Kind, V.; Newton, D.

Authors

Professor Simon Rees simon.rees@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Professor Vanessa Kind vanessa.kind@durham.ac.uk
External Examiner (PGR)

Professor Douglas Newton d.p.newton@durham.ac.uk
Academic Support Coordinator

Abstract

The specific yet varied challenges chemical language presents to students learning the subject are widely recognised. However, to effectively engage a student population becoming increasingly diverse in terms of culture, language and prior knowledge chemistry educators must develop pedagogical strategies that address issues of language comprehension. In this paper we discuss the body of literature that provides evidence of the multiple challenges that the language of chemistry presents students. These include: words in a scientific context, words with dual meaning, similar words and symbolic language. The chemistry learning triplet is used to illustrate how students must use chemical language to move between the macroscopic, sub‐microscopic and symbolic levels. Combining evidence from our research and the wider literature we describe a novel model of linguistic demand in multiple dimensions that represents the challenge of chemical language. This model can be used to assess the linguistic demand of teaching resources and to focus the appropriate use of language and literacy informed pedagogical strategies.

Citation

Rees, S., Kind, V., & Newton, D. (2019). Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Language Barriers in University Level Chemistry Education. Israel Journal of Chemistry, 59(6-7), 470-477. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201800079

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Aug 20, 2018
Online Publication Date	Sep 13, 2018
Publication Date	Jun 24, 2019
Deposit Date	Sep 14, 2018
Publicly Available Date	Sep 13, 2019
Journal	Israel Journal of Chemistry
Print ISSN	0021-2148
Electronic ISSN	1869-5868
Publisher	Wiley-VCH Verlag
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	59
Issue	6-7
Pages	470-477
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201800079

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Copyright Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Rees, S.W., Kind, V. & Newton, D. (2019). Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Language Barriers in University Level Chemistry Education. Israel Journal of Chemistry 58(6-7): 470-477 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201800079. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley-VCH Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.