The effect of multiple representation approach on students' creative thinking skills: A case of 'Rate of Reaction' topic

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze students' creative thinking skills in implementing multiple representation approach on 'rate of reaction' topic. The one-shot case study research design was conducted with 30-eleventh grade students drawn from a public senior high school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The learning process involved in implementing concept attainment models with multiple representation approach (CAM-MRA). There were five lesson sequences including presentation of example and non-example, formulation of example, formulation and analysis of hypothesis, closure and application. In each session, macroscopic, microscopic, symbolic and mathematics representation were employed to illustrate 'rate of reaction' concepts. The data were collected by creative thinking based on multiple representation test (CT-MRT) with 24 items. The results showed that the CAM-MRA facilitated the students' creative thinking skills of 'rate of reaction'. However, the students still had difficulty to show the microscopic representation. This study suggests that multiple representations in chemistry should be emphasized in chemistry learning at senior high school.