Band theory performance comparison

The second component of analysis for determining the cognitive load effects of nanoscience and materials science contexts on exam items for the two different chemistiy courses, involved a paired item analysis. Two nanoscience items in the sub-categories of spectroscopy and band theory, as well as two materials items in the sub-categories of intermolecular forces (IMF) and Lewis stmctures, were inserted into the practice exam to serve as paired items in these same sub-categories. The first comparison we analyzed was both groups of students differential performance on non-nanoscience and materials exam items versus nanoscience and materials items (Figures 4 5). 

In Figure 4, the performance comparison on non-nanoscience and materials nanoscience and materials items for pre-engineering chemistry students, it can be seen that in both the areas of spectroscopy and Lewis structure, the engineering stndents have a higher performance when the format of the item inclndes reference to either nanoscience or special materials. This observation is very interesting, becanse nnlike the areas of intermolecular forces and band theory, neither of these concepts were known to be taught in the context of... 

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