Finding Keywords in a YouTube Video: A Fun Tool to Learn Atomic Structure in Middle School Students

• Published in: Journal of chemical education 2023-02, Vol.100 (2), p.1017-1022
• Main Authors: Buitrago, Paola Gómez, Arteaga, Danny, Cabanzo, Andrea Carolina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic structure; Chemistry; Control Groups; Educational activities; Experimental Groups; Keywords; Learning; Learning processes; Middle school education; Middle school students; Middle Schools; Molecular structure; Organic Chemistry; Science activities; Students; Topics; Video Technology
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00750

Knowing about the evolution of atomic models throughout history is a fundamental topic to learn about atomic structure. This paper describes how identifying keywords from a musical YouTube video provides a stimulating activity for learning this topic in a chemistry class in middle school. The main goal was to show how a fun and interesting activity can be planned using a free access video and how great results can be achieved during the educational process of “teaching-learning” when generating a high level in interest in the classroom. For this purpose, a group of students was previously characterized reporting that many students showed preferences for visual and auditory instructions in their learning processes. Three (3) experimental groups and one (1) control group were visited to evaluate learning goals. Within the control group, only 22% achieved the test as it was carried out, while in other groups, 98% passed the test using methods from this research. This paper explains that the activity was planned and evaluated in three (3) ways: video relevance, development, and methodology of final evaluation, with successful results and quite positive comments about the experience from students.