E-CONFIG Cards: Educational Game to Learn Electron Configuration in Atomic Orbitals

Electron configurations of atomic orbitals are basic and essential topics in the chemistry curriculum for understanding atoms through quantum mechanics. Because the mathematical treatment of wave functions is generally omitted from introductory chemistry courses, students learn the process of arranging electrons in atomic orbital energy levels according to the aufbau principle, the Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund’s rules. Although various game-based educational methods have been developed to enhance motivation for learning electron configurations of atomic orbitals, they do not encompass all content related to electron configurations in ions and excited states, which are covered in the chemistry curriculum. In this work, an interactive board game was designed to include electron configurations not only in the ground state but also in excited and ionized states. Thirty-six 11th-grade students engaged in this game and reported positive perceptions of usage intention and learning effectiveness. The learning activity led to meaningful improvement in students’ understanding of excited-state electron configurations. The game’s competitive and engaging features encouraged repeated play, supporting students’ learning of fundamental chemical concepts related to electron configurations.