Inquiry Learning
Chemical Bonding – Chemistry Grade 11 – Matter and Chemical Bonding
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/E20/E20.html
Strengths for this site are that it has a video explanation for the different elements in the periodic table. It also allows the student to create a model and then click to see if their model is represented correctly. I think it’s a great interactive and inquiry based site, allowing the learner to make mistakes and go back to correct them.
2) http://www.chm.davidson.edu/vce/AtomicOrbitals/orbitals.html
A good site for establishing the relationship between the electron cloud and quantum mechanics.
The strength of this site is that it gives the student control to determine which orbital and electron configuration they can view. It’s an excellent way to connect the electron configuration and “probable” electron density cloud along with the visualization of the atomic orbital. Quantum mechanics and probability of electrons are difficult concepts for students to wrap their heads around. This provides an interact and inquiry based learning approach in order to give the control to the student so they can explore their misconceptions.
Problem-based Inquiry Learning
Case Study 1
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/files/acrylamide.pdf
“Would You Supersize My Cancer Please? A Case Study Exploring Chemicals in the News”
Summary: This case study is about a day in the life of Johnny and his sister Elsa. He loves his fries but his informative sister wants to discuss the chemicals she read that is in his fries. She mentions that “acrylamide” is in them and that he can’t eat the fries anymore. He agrees to stop eating fries after they agree to look over the newspaper articles that both condemn fries and also give the other side of the pictures
Direct applicability to chemistry grade 11/12: Students can generate a class debate. Half can take Elsa’s position and the other half can take Johnny’s. They can all read the newspaper articles on other chemicals in the food industry and discuss the chemical bonding, compositions and dangers.
Strengths: This case directly applies to real world issues. This case could actually mimic some the discussions students have with their parents or siblings. This fosters more critical thinking students. The problem based approach stimulates realistic discussions that teenagers would find invigorating and engaging.
Case Study 2
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/files/ddt.pdf
Summary: students ponder the use of DDT to control malaria in the developing world. They consider “risk/benefit analysis and the precautionary principle”.
Direct applicability to chemistry grade 11/12: It pushes students to consider social justice issues. Integrating different subjects and allowing the student to become more aware of their surrondings
Strengths: The case is presented in a story format which is intriguing to the young adult. Sometimes as science students we can loose the art of story telling. This case presents data and chemical information in an easily digestible format. It engages students in world political issues, integrating other subjects such as history and language arts.
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Project Based Inquiry Leaning Research
A well designed project-based learning activity is one that addresses a variety of student learning styles and does not try to force all students to demonstrate their knowledge in a single and standard.