What Makes Learning Chemistry Difficult?

Successful completion of college level general chemistry and retention of the concepts taught are necessary for continuation in science and related fields. However, a significant number of students have difficulties learning chemistry. Women as a group tend to experience greater difficulty than do men contributing to the low representation and retention of women in science and related fields. Based on the premise that how one perceives the learning-context influences the degree of difficulty learning experienced, the perceptions of the chemistry learning-context as seen by a female pre-professional major were investigated. The factors she identified that contributed to her difficulties, her reasons why, her suggested solutions, and connections between the factors are presented in this book. It is through understanding of the difficulties that one can begin to help students deal with them. The analysis is potentially useful for instructors interested in helping students to overcome their difficulties as they plan the instructional program, helping a greater number of students to be successful, opening the door for more students to pursue careers in science and related fields.