COLLEGES OF EDUCATION STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF USE OF MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS IN EXPLAINING CHEMISTRY CONCEPTS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya

Use of multiple representations is presented as an unavoidable model for effective teaching and learning of chemistry concepts, making student awareness essential for improved instruction. This study determined colleges of education chemistry students’ awareness of using multiple representations to explain chemistry concepts in Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy-five respondents completed a questionnaire (CSAMPQ), analyzed with Chi-square statistics. Results showed no significant association between awareness and students’ gender or educational level.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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Introduction

Multiple representations in chemistry concepts

Gender and level of education as study variables

COLLEGES OF EDUCATION STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF USE OF MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS IN EXPLAINING CHEMISTRY CONCEPTS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA Nusirat Bolanle YUSUF Abstract. The use of multiple representations in explaining chemistry concepts has been reported to be an unavoidable model for effective teaching and learning of chemistry concepts. Therefore, its awareness by colleges of education chemistry students is of paramount importance. The study was conducted to determine the awareness of use of multiple representations in explaining chemistry concepts. One hundred and seventy-five respondents were involved in the study. A researcher designed questionnaire tagged CSAMPQ was used to collect data from the respondents which was later analysed. The hypotheses were tested using Chi-square statistics. Finding from the study revealed that there was no significant association between both gender and level of education of the students and their awareness of use of multiple representations. It was therefore recommended that the teachers of these students should create awareness for those students that are not aware of the use of multiple representations and this should be irrespective of gender and level of education of the students. Keywords: Awareness; Chemistry concepts; Colleges of Education; Multiple Representations. 1. Introduction Chemistry is a science subject whose knowledge has great value in making provision for human sustenance (food, drugs, clothing materials, cleaning agents etc) for human beings to survive in life. Chemistry as a science subject has a major role to play in human life, and this is the main reason some topics of the subject is found in every other science subject. It is as a result of this some researchers referred to it as the mother of all sciences (Jimoh, 2005; Udousoro, 2011) . Despite the importance attributed to knowledge of Chemistry it has been observed to be one of the science subjects students found difficult and full of abstract concepts (Azmat, 2013; Berg, 2013; Childs and Sihaan, 2009; Tima & Sutrisno, 2018). However, this difficulty experienced in learning of Chemistry by Chemistry students at all levels of education Berg (2013); Kern, Wood, Roehrig and Nyachuwaya (2010), has been attributed majorly to the nature of Chemistry (Johnstone, 1991; Gabel, 1999) . According to Johnstone (1991) Chemistry is science subject which its concepts can be represented in three forms known as three levels of Chemistry. The levels of Chemistry are model which is being used to described the three forms one can use to describe chemistry concepts otherwise known as multiple representation of Chemistry concepts. The multiple form of representations is macro and tangible, molecular and invisible, then symbolic and mathematical (Johnstone,2010) . The macro representation which is the observable form of representations such as the activities carried out in the laboratory which involves the use of the sense organs for recognition of changes taking place during chemical reactions such as colour change, given off of odour, production of precipitate etc.; molecular representations which is otherwise known as submicroscopic representations is the use of particulates such as ions, atoms and molecules which are not visible to the naked eyes to represent phenomena and the third form of representations is the symbolic representation which has to do with use of symbols such as mathematical equation, chemical equation to represent chemical concepts. It has been observed that chemists easily make use of the three forms of representations but students at both secondary as well as college found it difficult to transfer the understanding of one representation to the other (Johnstone, 1991) . The ability to transfer the conceptual understanding of one representation to another has been recognized as the goal of science education Gilbert (2010) but students found it difficult to comprehend. For effective training of col

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study in Kwara State, Nigeria?

The study aimed to determine colleges of education chemistry students’ awareness of using multiple representations to explain chemistry concepts.

How was data collected and analyzed?

Data were collected using a questionnaire (CSAMPQ) designed by the researcher and analyzed using Chi-square statistics to test the hypotheses.

What did the findings show about gender and educational level?

There was no significant association between students’ gender and educational level and their awareness of using multiple representations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya