Abstract
We argue that molecular visualization is a process that includes constructing a mental model. Current qualitative research has shown that participants working on a mental molecular visualization/rotation task invoke components of a mental model. Four of the components are static representations: referents, relations, results, and rules/syntax. The fifth component is dynamic: operation. Two examples of operation are visualization and rotation. Participants used the constructed mental models as mental tools to complete the task. This conceptualization of mental model construction constitutes a theory of learning.
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Keywords
- Mental Model
- Molecular Visualization
- Mental Model Construction
- Central Conceptual Structure
- Syntax Component
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Briggs, M., Bodner, G. (2005). A Model of Molecular Visualization. In: Gilbert, J.K. (eds) Visualization in Science Education. Models and Modeling in Science Education, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3613-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3613-2_5
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