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Chemistry as a discipline is dominated by the use of models and modelling. Chemists use models to explain data, to predict events and to help understand chemical reactivity. As a consequence, chemistry teaching, especially at the advanced level, is also dominated by the use of models. These models, being highly abstract in nature are referred to as mental models. An understanding of students' mental models is important because teachers employ increasingly complex models throughout the degree program. However, there are many reports in the literature indicating that students' understanding and use of mental models is limited in comparison with desired teaching outcomes. |
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