The “So You Think You Can Demo” contest made it’s first appearance on the ChemEd agenda in 2013. According the the ChemEd 2013 website, organizers for the Waterloo event designed the contest to “encourage skilled educators to share their expertise, communication abilities and creativity with other educators and ultimately with students.” Considering the popularity of the 2013 contest, the organizers of the Kennesaw event included the contest on the ChemEd 2015 agenda.
ChemEd 2015 has just announced the top four finalists. Registered ChemEd Participants can vote once for their favorite video.
ChemEd X has created a central archive for the videos submitted for ChemEd 2013, ChemEd 2015 and hopefully future ChemEd events..
You can view the videos of the 2015 semifinalists here (listed alphabetically by last name of presenter). Visit the ChemEd 2015 site to vote (voting limited to ChemEd 2015 registered participants) for your favorites. The top three presenters will perform at Kennesaw during ChemEd! You can also participate in our own informal voting platform at ChemEd X. Consider the following criteria when you rank the videos/presenters:
- Is the Theory for High School Chemistry explained well?
- Is this demonstration “stage worthy”? (Visually interesting/entertaining?)
- Is safety considered?
- Can other teachers easily reproduce this demonstration in terms of equipment, materials, procedure and cost?
The UNOFFICIAL ChemEd X POLL. You must be a registered member of the ChemEd X community to vote (free registration). Please only vote once for your favorite.
Clifford teaches at Jacob Hesperler Secondary School in Cambridge, Ont., Canada. She incorporates kinesthetic learning activities along with practical laboratory time to help students experience the wonder of chemistry.
Hassam is an Honour Specialist chemistry teacher at AY Jackson Secondary School in Ontario, Canada. Laila enjoys the pHun of chemistry and sharing labs and demos with her students.
The Science Behind Why a Balloon Pops when squirted with an Orange Peel
Tom Kuntzleman has experience teaching high school chemistry, but now teaches at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, USA. He has a great deal of experience performing demonstrations at public schools and campus events.
Forgetful Barkeeper – Chemical Magic
Regina Ruffler has taught chemistry at the University of Hamburg in Germany. She has co-written and published Physical Science from a Different Angle, which contains over 100 demonstration experiments.