The first-year chemistry course through a mobile device: A pilot study in seventh grade

Abstract

Today, practically every secondary school student has a mobile device. At the same time, teenagers utilize mobile devices for everything, including the completion of various learning activities. Plenty of interactive resources allow the use of mobile devices in teaching chemistry. We believe in the significant potential of these gadgets in chemistry education by making students’ learning more active. This pilot study explored the effect of our one-year interactive chemistry course on the students’ learning outcomes and the psychological and pedagogical features of their learning environment in middle school. Thirty-four interactive lessons for seventh graders exploited some elements of the activity approach and were created with the maximum use of interactive technology such as smartphones and tablets. The course was implemented at a middle school in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. The pilot showed that using interactive materials boosts student motivation and productivity.