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The biochemistry tetrahedron and the development of the taxonomy of biochemistry external representations (TOBER)
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The biochemistry tetrahedron and the development of the taxonomy of biochemistry external representations (TOBER)

Marcy H Towns, Jeffrey R Raker, Nicole Becker, Marissa Harle and Jonathan Sutcliffe
Chemistry Education Research and Practice, Vol.13(3), pp.296-306
2012
DOI: 10.1039/C2RP00014H
url
https://doi.org/10.1039/C2RP00014HView
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Visual literacy, the ability to interpret and create external representations (ERs), is essential to success in biochemistry. Studies have been conducted that describe students' abilities to use and interpret specific types of ERs. However, a framework for describing ERs derived through a naturalistic inquiry of biochemistry classrooms has not been proposed in the literature. The Taxonomy of Biochemistry External Representations (TOBER) is proposed as a method for classifying the types of ERs used in biochemistry classrooms. Johnstone's domains of chemical knowledge is extended to the discipline of biochemistry to form the “Biochemistry Tetrahedron” and the TOBER is mapped on to it. Ainsworth's Functional Taxonomy of Multiple ERs is connected to biochemistry and is used in conjunction with the TOBER and Biochemistry Tetrahedron to derive implications for research and classroom practice.

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