IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY AS A TOOL FOR TEACHING MOLECULAR MODELS: A DUAL APPROACH

Abstract

The teaching of chemistry is deeply rooted in the interplay between the three domains described by Johnstone's triangle (Johnstone, 1991): the macroscopic, the symbolic, and the submicroscopic. Since direct experience of the molecular scale is impossible, conceptual understanding heavily relies on symbolic representations and models. Visualizations and visual models are essential for learning in science (Harrison & Treagust, 2000), and chemistry education is almost unthinkable without them. However, understanding these visual representations is challenging for many learners (Johnstone, 2000), particularly at the university entry level. In this study, we present a dual-faceted educational project aimed at leveraging immersive virtual reality (VR) for chemistry teaching. The first goal was to employ a game-based VR platform to allow high school students to explore molecular and supramolecular structures (e.g., liquid crystals) in a three-dimensional immersive environment. Through various visualization models (ball-and-stick, space-filling, etc.), students not only improved their understanding of molecular structures but also gained an appreciation for the fact that all representations are models, not reality itself. The second goal was to train university students as peer tutors, guiding high school students through the virtual activities. Our findings suggest that high school students showed increased engagement and improved comprehension of molecular representations, while university students developed enhanced communication and teamwork skills through their tutoring role. This approach suggests that immersive VR can be a valuable tool for bridging gaps in molecular visualization, fostering active learning, and supporting students in the early stages of chemistry education. Further investigations will explore the long-term retention of conceptual understanding and the scalability of this approach to broader educational contexts.