The Periodic Table of the Elements (PTE) is arguably one of the most central topics in chemistry. This article provides a critical review of current teaching practices of the PTE to high-school students and undergraduate university students. It also provides a new teaching model, the "periodic universe", for understanding of the PTE…

Uses Bruner's learning theory to indicate how simulation games give British secondary school teachers a chance to resolve the dilemma of, on the one hand, the formal demands of the educational system, and on the other, the need to strengthen their pupils' ability to respond to and accept change. (Author/LLS)