Significance of the forms of representation for learning in the natural sciences

The two areas of knowledge in focus are evolution and chemical reactions. Both these areas of knowledge have physical processes which are difficult to observe with the naked eye. Evolutionary processes stretch out over very long periods of time while chemical reactions take place at a microscopic level. In this project we investigate how visualisations of these processes can contribute to better understanding among students of these scientific phenomena. This is partly using ready-made visualisations that aim to help students assimilate threshold concepts necessary for understanding evolution. In another part of the project students and future student teachers create their own animations of scientific processes in the fields of evolution and chemical reactions.