Smartphone Applications as a Catalyst for Active Learning in Chemistry: Investigating the Ideal Gas Law

Abstract

This chapter examines how interactive research-based smartphone applications can be used to engage students in hands-on chemistry learning both at school and at home. Two different smartphone applications are being discussed: the PhET (Physics Education Technology, https://phet.colorado.edu/) suite of interactive simulations and the Phyphox (Physics Phone Experiments, https://phyphox.org/) data collection and analysis smartphone application. PhET chemistry simulations let students conduct virtual experiments, while the Phyphox app allows students to collect and analyze real time data. We illustrate the pedagogical applications of these apps through an example of an ideal gas investigation. We also suggest how smartphone applications can be introduced in science teacher education to actively engage future teachers in smartphone enabled science investigations. Finally, we discuss how smartphone-based science experiments can help educators increase access to active science learning for all students and consequently reduce the educational inequality in STEM classrooms.