Picture Chem: Playing a Game To Identify Laboratory Equipment Items and Describe Their Use

Abstract

Laboratory activities are an important means of instruction in science; as such, they have been used in chemistry education since the 1880s. Many learning objectives can be achieved through the use of laboratory activities undertaken by chemistry students. In student-centered laboratory activities, students should know how to use an apparatus in designing an experiment. In this Activity, we describe the development and preliminary use of a game to help students learn the names and functions of common chemistry laboratory equipment. The game, Picture Chem, was played with 30 cards and a playing board. An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats was used to improve the game. The effectiveness of the game was tested quantitatively, with results showing that students find Picture Chem to be both enjoyable and beneficial.