Interactive periodic table: stimulating comprehension

Abstract

The periodic table, one of the most important subjects in the teaching of Chemistry, is divided into different types of elements, based on electronic configuration. The comprehension of its meaning and the information contained are very important in the teaching of Chemistry. The use of the right tools to improve comprehension may improve the learning process, especially with high-school students. The use of the interactive periodic table (found in http:// www.merckquimica.com.br) has been evaluated in current research by means of activities involving computers and didactic books used by 3rd year high school students. There was a good level of interaction between students and chemical contents, with great flexibility of contents. Results are mainly due to the interactive characteristic of the lectures, the possibility to foresee the chemical properties and reactivity, and to the association between the periodic table history and the discovery of the chemical elements, which was easily identified