ISOCHEM: Development of an Interactive 3D Game on the Web in Augmented Reality to Enhance Students’ Learning of Isomers of Organic Chemistry

Abstract

During the semester 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health issue and impact on education. Many institutions abruptly transitioned their courses from face to-face instruction to distance learning. This prompts us to optimize the teaching strategies for chemistry courses during online teaching mode. In particular, distance learning is not easy to engage student focusing on a difficult concept, especially organic chemistry. Therefore, the researchers have developed a new interactive 3D game on the web in augmented reality (AR) with a tutorial namely ISOCHEM, which is used as a door engaging activity for the online flipped classroom. This game could enhance the students’ interests in isomers of organic compounds. Not only the high-school students, the first-year undergraduate students can also learn either in person or in group activity. ISOCHEM has two levels in which the players are requesting to respond the correct answers for guaranteeing the passing into the next level. Level 1 is matched with the structures of isomers, while Level 2 is relevant to the construction of molecular model sets in learning of structures and spatial orientations of organic molecules/compounds via building a molecular model. To gain more challenges, students have to show the molecular structure in a ball-and-stick model verified by the app. Moreover, ISOCHEM has tutorials consisted of basic isomer concepts, which provide the infographic and AR setups that allow students to learn by their own pace prior starting a game. The work presented herein could enhance students’ comprehensive learnings and understandings through the individualized and self-directed learning experiences.