Use of conceptual metaphors in teaching/learning chemistry models

Angelo Bonomi

Paper

Italian

The author presents the conceptual metaphor as a didactic technique aimed to the introduction of chemical complex concepts, such as molecular orbitals or the Schroedinger equation in a more simple form. The conceptual metaphor consists of the use of a concrete example (source) that can be easily visualized by the students and that behaves similarly to the more difficult system (target) as a tool to explain the latter concept. The author reports the results of some lessons on molecular orbitals and stoichiometric calculations held in a secondary school with the help of conceptual metaphors.

The article is quite interesting, as it suggests how to make more accessible complex concepts through a way (the conceptual metaphor and the metaphoric projection) that is often unconsciously used in scientific dissemination.

Dr.Maria Maddalena Carnasciali

Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale - University of Genoa

Researcher