• University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The focal point of Vicente’s work is the study, reflection, and improvement of chemistry education. In particular, he has directed his research at trying to characterize the conceptual frameworks and the patterns of reasoning used by chemistry students to answer questions and solve problems that require qualitative reasoning (e.g., classification, prediction, inference, comparison). They are also exploring how students’ ideas and reasoning strategies evolve as they develop more expertise in the discipline (trajectories of expertise). These studies are of central importance to design learning progressions that foster meaningful learning. Additionally, he works in the development of chemistry curricula and educational materials.