The Chemical Science & Engineering programme (CSE), part of the Faculty of Science & Technology (TNW), has pioneered an innovative teaching approach. At the core of this method lies the integration of conceptual modeling, which serves as a guiding process for students to develop system thinking skills while collaborating in project groups. Students need to work together to identify and address specific sustainability challenges. The approach enhances students' scientific reasoning abilities and provides a formal framework for tackling real-world challenges in chemistry education.
This initiative resulted from a collaborative effort involving the program director, teachers, education specialists, learning assistants, and researchers, including Leonie Krab, Albert Wong, Arturo Susarrey Arce, Linlin Pei, Pepijn de Vries, Saskia Lindhoud, Jos Paulusse, Pascal Jonkheijm, and more.
LTR: Albert Wong, Leonie Krab, Linlin Pei, Pascal Jonkheijm, Saskia Lindhoud, Jos Paulusse, Pepijn de Vries
Key Achievements
Key achievements related to this initiative include:
- A theoretical framework of conceptual modeling in chemical sciences, the "Learning electrochemistry through scientific inquiry. Conceptual modelling as a learning objective and as a scaffold" paper published in the European Journal of Engineering Education in March 2022.
- Based on these experiences, the "Conceptual Modeling Enables Systems Thinking in Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Engineering" paper was published online in the Journal of Chemical Education in November 2023.
- The work conceptual modeling and system thinking gained recognition from high school teachers, as evidenced by the invitation of Leonie Krab-Hüsken to talk at the 2023 Woudschoten Chemie Conferentie.
- The chemistry community recognized this work through an interview featured in C2W Mens en Milieu, a chemistry and life sciences magazine in the Netherlands. The article, titled "Uitzoomen en vooruitkijken: conceptueel modelleren in de klas," was based on an interview with Albert Wong and Leonie Krab-Hüsken.
Arturo Susarrey Arce, who won the CSE Teacher of the Year prize in 2023
Ongoing Development
Module 1 (led by Albert Wong) and Module 4 (led by Arturo Susarrey) have successfully integrated conceptual modeling as a fundamental teaching and learning method. There are plans to extend this approach to additional modules, ensuring its widespread implementation across the CSE curriculum. Ongoing educational research in Modules 1 and 4 that aim to bridge other modules demonstrating a commitment to continued educational improvement. The efforts pursue opportunities to explore the broader application of conceptual modeling in chemistry education through various national educational grants.
Interested in learning more about this conceptual modeling initiative? Feel free to reach out to key contributors Albert Wong, Arturo Susarrey Arce, Leonie Krab, and Linlin Pei. And stay updated on this topic by tuning into a follow-up interview in one of the next issues of CELT's newsletter, The Teaching Times, by subscribing here.
