Integration of the Arts and Technology in GK-12 Science Courses

This paper, overview a study performed in two 10th grade chemistry classes at a girls High School in Philadelphia, PA. Discussion with the teacher of the two classes, led to the realization that students are finding a hard time understanding the structure of an atom. Comprehension of the atom is a foundational skill in Chemistry, without the understanding of the atom, many topics in chemistry will be very difficult to understand. To tackle this problem, students in these two classes worked in groups of four, and each group was assigned a periodic element. They used iPads provided by the university to first design the structure of the atom in an app called AutoDesk 123Design. Students then provided their design to a NSF funded GK-12 graduate student fellow, and the 3D models were printed via a 3D printer at Drexel University. Once all atoms were completely printed, the students were able to paint and put together the different components using various household materials. A short PowerPoint presentation was also done by each group to discuss the various elements assigned, their structure and how electrons move in the orbitals of their specific atom. To assess their knowledge a pre and post-test was given to each student, and as a benchmark. Two additional classes that did not participate in this activity were also given a pre and post-test to be used as a control. Results of this study showed that the experimental group had a stronger understanding of the subject matter as opposed to the control group, thus, indicating that technology and arts may had a positive correlation to students´ learning experience.