Learning About the Unit Cell and Crystal Lattice With Computerized Simulations and Games

Abstract

The authors have developed a computer-based learning module on the unit cell of various types of crystal. The module has two components: the virtual unit cell (VUC) part and the subsequent unit cell hunter part. The VUC is a virtual reality simulation for students to actively arrive at the unit cell from exploring, from a broad view, the crystal lattice of atoms or ions displayed “three dimensionally.” The unit cell hunter (UCH) part, implemented after the VUC, is a board game with students competing in assembling the atomic pieces for two types of unit cell (cubic and hexagonal) framework. The students were evaluated for achievement after having benefited from working with the learning module and participating in the debriefing. Apart from identical pre- and posttests at the beginning and end of the activities, students also responded to a questionnaire. Active participation by the students and the researcher in the debriefing enhanced learning as set out by the objectives, for example, better visualization of the three-dimensional structures of various types of unit cell and crystal lattice.