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Online Orbital Explorer and BingOrbital Game for Inquiry-Based Activities
Xiao Li1,2, Marc Muñiz3, Karlun Chun4
1Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences Education, Beijing Institute of Education, Beijing 100120, China.
Journal of Chemical Education
|June 30, 2022
Summary
This study introduces Orbital Explorer, an online tool for visualizing atomic orbitals, and BingOrbital, a gamified activity. These resources enhance students' understanding of atomic orbital properties through interactive learning.
Area of Science:
- Chemistry education
- Computational chemistry
- Chemical visualization
Background:
- Developing students' representational competence in atomic orbitals is crucial for chemistry education.
- Existing tools may lack interactive and engaging features for exploring atomic orbital properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new online suite of tools, Orbital Explorer, for interactive visualization and investigation of atomic orbital properties.
- To introduce BingOrbital, a gamified activity designed to reinforce the recognition of atomic orbitals.
- To support inquiry-based active-learning activities in chemistry education.
Main Methods:
- Developed Orbital Explorer, a web-based hub with two integrated tools: Atomic Orbital Explorer and Orbital RDF Comparison.
- Created BingOrbital, a gamified learning tool based on Bingo, utilizing radial distribution functions (RDFs) and 3D isosurfaces.
- Designed activities to complement the use of Orbital Explorer and BingOrbital for educational purposes.
Main Results:
- Orbital Explorer enables visualization and quantitative comparison of atomic orbitals and their radial distribution functions (RDFs).
- BingOrbital effectively reinforces atomic orbital recognition through an engaging retrieval practice format.
- The tools facilitate inquiry-based learning and enhance students' representational competence.
Conclusions:
- The developed online tools and gamified activity provide an effective platform for teaching and learning about atomic orbitals.
- These resources promote active learning and deeper understanding of atomic orbital properties.
- The integration of visualization and gamification offers a novel approach to chemistry education.
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