Model Experiments in Chemistry Education: A Classification Framework

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 102; no. 9; pp. 3840 - 3848
• Main Authors: Sommer, Katrin, Toschka, Christina, Fisch, Richard, Fischer, Roland A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 09.09.2025; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Classification; Experiments; Learning; Learning environment; Science Education; First-Year Undergraduate/General; High School/Introductory Chemistry; Model experiments; Chemical education research
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01266

Model experiments represent an established pedagogical approach for making original chemical content accessible for students in learning contexts. However, the terminology used is not consistently defined across the literature. This article, therefore, presents a framework for classifying model experiments. This comprises three dimensions: (1) A criteria-based definition of model experiments; (2) didactic functions, where model experiments can be used for illustration and research purposes; and (3) size scale, where original chemical contents as sources for model experiments can be at both the submicroscopic and macroscopic levels and, therefore, have different scales than those of model experiments. The efficiency of the developed framework is examined based on selected works on model experiments. Additionally, recommendations for designing and using of model experiments in the contexts of teaching and learning are derived from the initial empirical findings.