Exploring difficulties in chemistry school in emirates

Abstract EN

The difficulties of learning chemistry are related in the nature of chemistry itself and the methods by which chemistry is customarily taught without regard to what is known about student’s learning.

This study initially explored secondary students’ difficulties in learning chemistry in Emirates.

New teaching materials were designed to lower working memory demand and get application, attitudes up.

Evidence from the study supports the conclusion that the curriculum of chemistry in Emirates needs redesigne.

Keywords: Exploring, Difficulties, Chemistry, Emirates.

The fact is that many students claim that science is hard to learn (Johnstone, 1991) and they view chemistry as one of the most difficult subjects to study.

Learning chemistry places demands on students and teachers that can seem insurmountable (Stiff & Wilensky, 2002).

In many countries, the understanding of scientific ideas of the majority of students is thought to be very poor (Gott & Johnson, 1999).

There are numerous studies in science education which have looked at school and university students’ difficulties and understandings of scientific phenomena and chemistry concepts.

In the Emirates, the result of an investigation carried by Al-Marashda (2002) with secondary schools students in the department of Al-Ain Education Zone indicated major problems.

In his study of difficulties in learning chemistry in secondary school in Al-Ain, he drew the conclusion that secondary students have difficulties in learning chemical concepts such as: writing chemical formula, periodic table, chemical bonds, writing chemical equation, mole and chemical calculations, liquids and solutions specialties, organic chemistry, solubility product, titration, Faraday sums, and metals.

This seems to encompass almost all the curriculum - a frightening thought!