Reaktiomatka

Reaktiomatka is a term used in some Finnish science education and informal learning contexts to describe a teaching activity that models the sequence of a chemical reaction or a process as a physical journey. The word combines reaktio, meaning reaction, and matka, meaning journey, signaling that learners move through a series of stages that correspond to steps in a reaction or system change.

In a typical rekatiomatka activity, participants follow a route through different stations or locations. At each stop, they perform tasks, discuss intermediate states, and collect evidence or data that illustrate a particular step in the mechanism, energetics, or kinetics of the process being modeled. A facilitator links the stations to concepts such as activation energy, intermediate species, bond formation and breakage, or rate-determining steps. Some implementations use cards, props, or a digital app to document decisions and outcomes, enabling a narrative of the reaction from reactants to products.

Variants of the approach adapt the distance, number of steps, and complexity to different age groups or learning goals. It is often used to promote active learning, collaboration, systems thinking, and the visualization of abstract ideas. Critics note that, as a hands-on model, rekatiomatka simplifies complex mechanisms and should be complemented with traditional explanations and theoretical grounding.

See also: reaction mechanism, educational games, active learning.