Wednesday, 23 February 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered in Online Zoom Please email chemistry.researchsupport@sydney.edu.au for zoom link and password.

Speaker: Prof. David Treagust; Curtin University

Host: Prof. Siegbert Schmid

Title: Multiple Representations in Chemistry and Conceptual Change: Suggestions for Future Research

Abstract: Effective learning of chemistry concepts with multiple representations necessitates the use of different modes of writing, listening, reading, and experimenting and involves text, diagrams, analogies, teaching models, mathematical relationships, and computer simulations. Science concepts also can be represented at different levels of organization or perceptions that involve the human eye or require instrumentation or external notation; this includes the macro, submicro and symbolic representations. Several theoretical models can be used to demonstrate how learning with a variety of different representations results in a deeper understanding of concepts.

Conceptual change has been and still is a powerful framework for improving teaching and learning of science and other subjects in the curriculum. However, conceptual change research usually is not linked overtly with multiple representations but rather with students’ science achievement. Consequently, there is a need to make a clear and persuasive link between multiple representations and conceptual change that has not been directly or sufficiently linked before. In this presentation, I will review research on multiple representations and on conceptual change in science and examine how one field can contribute effectively to the other and thereby provide suggestions for future research studies in STEM subjects.

Biography: David Treagust is John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia where he supervises research students on topics related to understanding students’ ideas about science concepts and how these ideas relate to conceptual change and multiple representations, the design of science curricula and teachers’ classroom practices.

He taught high school science and chemistry for 10 years. He is the author of more than 350 publications in major journals and books on science education research and chemical education research, and is a regular contributor to national and international conferences.

Treagust holds a PhD and a MS from the University of Iowa, USA, a BSc from the University of Western Australia and a Certificate of Education from Worcester College (University of Birmingham) England. He is a recipient of the American Chemical Society Award for Achievement in Research for the Teaching and Learning of Chemistry, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Chair of the Editorial Board for the journal Chemistry Education Research and Practice.