Using a Digital Learning Platform to Support Inclusive Learning of Chemistry at the University Level Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • The field of education is experiencing a profound transformation driven by digital technology, a shift that the COVID-19 pandemic has hastened. This global crisis has prompted educational institutions to swiftly adopt digital tools, leading to a notable surge in online educational resources, particularly in the sciences. In university teaching of chemistry, virtual visualisation platforms and remote classrooms offer college-level chemistry students immersive experiences beyond the confines of traditional classrooms. The success of digital transformation in higher education hinges on educators' ability to tailor the learning experience to individual student needs, fostering inclusivity and diversity. This study underscores the pivotal role of a digital platform in engaging students from engineering and science backgrounds in the study of chemistry. The resources offered by the virtual platform cater to various learning preferences and provide a comprehensive method for grasping essential chemistry concepts, ensuring that educators and students are fully engaged in the educational journey. Preliminary results indicate that students prefer exercises with additional hints (39%) and consider them more useful for learning. This suggests that receiving additional guidance during problemsolving is an effective method to facilitate the understanding of complex concepts. Explanatory videos are also highly valued by students (27%). This could be related to the effectiveness of visual and auditory resources in the learning process, providing a more interactive and accessible way of absorbing information. The research also revealed that students prefer learning methods that align with their dominant intelligence style, whether logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, or kinesthetic. This underscores the importance of tailoring educational resources to students' preferences and strengths. Incorporating digital platforms and virtual classrooms into chemistry education resources facilitates active learning and fosters a more inclusive, data-driven approach to teaching in the digital era. © 2025 IEEE.

publication date

  • January 1, 2025