Analysis and identification of students' threshold concepts in high school chemistry

Abstract

Concerning the difficulty of learning science and reduced interest in science, the authors of this study searched for potential threshold concepts which are portals or gateways in the field of science (particularly chemistry). The nature of these concepts and how to overcome their troublesomeness were further questioned. For this study, 239 high school students completed chemistry II provided information about what difficult concepts and potential threshold concepts in high school chemistry are and how they affect learning chemistry. In particular, the mastery experience of the threshold concepts was explored in detail. Two, mole and atomic structure were selected as threshold concepts in chemistry. Not only as important but also as threshold, this study emphasized the importance of the two concepts in terms of features characterizing them as threshold concepts. In particular, the features objectify subjective experiences of students and provide information describing the scientific meaning and distinctive nature of threshold concepts in science. Along with the data from teachers, this study shows the integrative feature as key criteria for students to make meaningful understanding of the two threshold concepts.