My Notes
Categories
This game is modeled after the New York Times (NYT) "Connections" game, in which players are presented with 16 words or phrases and the objective is to sort the words into four groups of four words that are all connected in some way. The game can be done by students individually, in small groups, or even together as a whole class. This game aims to help students practice and/or review assigning point groups to molecules. In the game, students will be presented with 16 molecules, all belonging to four different point groups. In this game, those point groups are C2v, C3v, D2h, and Oh.
In playing this game, students will be able to:
1) Classify molecules according to their point groups
2) Differentiate between closely related point groups by evaluating the presence or absence of key symmetry operations
3) Apply group theory vocabulary and symmetry concepts to justify connections among molecules and reinforce conceptual understanding of molecular symmetry
The game is done on a computer. One option would be for the instructor to project the Connections game from their computer for the entire class to do together (if the class is small enough), or another option would be for individual students to play the game on their own computers.
Prior to this activity, students had been instructed on symmetry elements and symmetry operations, completed some introductory practice on assigning point groups, and were provided with a flowchart to guide point group determination. During the activity, the game was projected for the entire class (about 12 students), and students worked together n previously established problem-solving groups. Groups discussed the puzzle independently and notified me when they were prepared to make a guess about a category. To make a guess, the group was required to identify the four molecules they believed belonged together and explain the connection among them, which in this case is the point group. After all connections had been correctly identified, students were directed to explore the Otterbein Symmetry Gallery (https://symotter.org/gallery) to further visualize the symmetry elements and symmetry operations associated with each molecule.
Evaluation
In my class, this was not a graded activity, but I would imagine that points could be given based on how many attempts a student makes to complete the puzzle.
The website I used to create the Connections game was ideal for my application because students can make any number of guesses that they want. Some websites for creating your own Connections games more closely follow the NYT game where you get 4 guesses before you "lose" and the answers are revealed. In my class, the most difficult molecules for students to visualize were the cyclohexane boat and SF4. I intentionally chose several molecules for this game that are shown in the Otterbein Symmetry Gallery so that students could visualize the relevant symmetry operations and elements in order to try to resolve any confusion.