first-year undergraduate

Pivot Interactives—A Resource All Chemistry Teachers Should Know About

Ben Meacham | Fri, 12/14/2018 - 11:31

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As many teachers are preparing for the possibility of teaching online next semester, we are revisiting posts from the ChemEd X archives like this one that might be of help. As a teacher, having the freedom to create or edit something within my instruction based on the needs of my students is incredibly important to me. So, when I found out the activities in Pivot Interactives are completely customizable, I was thrilled. (Originally published 12/14/18)

AACT Virtual Summer Symposia

Kristen Drury | Wed, 07/01/2020 - 11:45

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AACT has organized eight virtual symposia to provide professional development for teachers this summer. These symposia can truly help teachers plan for the next school year and virtually “see” one another to share ideas and concerns.

Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Mask-wearing with Liquid Nitrogen

Tom Kuntzleman | Sun, 06/28/2020 - 09:06

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We used liquid nitrogen to visualize the aerosol particles emitted while speaking, coughing, breathing, and sneezing. We also tested the ability of various masks to block these droplets.

What’s going on inside their head? - Student-made videos for metacognitive problem solving

Josh Kenney | Wed, 06/17/2020 - 14:56

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Metacognition is a learner-focused evaluation of knowledge growth and an essential process for complete and lasting knowledge. Although virtual learning environments pose challenges for facilitating metacognitive activities, student-made videos are effective for increasing metacognition in online chemistry instruction.

JCE 97.06 June 2020 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Thu, 06/11/2020 - 09:10

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Learning How to Do Chemistry

The June 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: innovative curriculum; exploring kinetics; engaging organic chemistry activities; molecular structure and symmetry; polymer chemistry; technology-based instruction; synthesis laboratories; undergraduate research experiences; from the archives: bath bombs and cosmetics chemistry.

Using Desmos to Create an Organic Nomenclature Card Sorting Activity

Ben Meacham | Tue, 06/02/2020 - 10:20

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Desmos offers an activity building feature that allows teachers to create and customize activities. The resource is applicable to a variety of science and chemistry topics and useful in whatever learning environment teachers find themselves in next school year.

Chemistry Experiments with the Flame Tube

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/26/2020 - 12:37

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The Ruben's Tube (also known as a Flame Tube) is a classic experiment used in physics classes. There's also a bit of chemistry to be learned while experimenting with a Ruben's Tube...

JCE 97.05 May 2020 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Wed, 05/13/2020 - 09:53

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Chemistry Education in Times of Disruption

The May 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: understanding structures; digital information and web-based learning; exploring everyday chemistry; curriculum innovations; games for teaching; NMR spectroscopy; examining properties of organic liquids; biochemistry laboratories; analytical and physical chemistry laboratories; computational chemistry; innovative low-cost instruments; research on knowledge and skills for teachers and chemists; from the archives: hands-on chemistry at home.

Three Necessary Adjustments for Teaching During COVID-19

Josh Kenney | Mon, 05/11/2020 - 10:00

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After making the switch from in-person to virtual chemistry learning in the wake of school closures due to COVID-19, teachers have continued to make adjustments. The author has found a few new strategies and made changes to his course in response to the needs of his students and the nature of online learning.

The exploding Pringles design challenge: Formative assessment with a bang!

Scott Balicki | Mon, 05/04/2020 - 20:13

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The Exploding Pringles can design challenge is an open-ended formative assessment developed by the ACCT team, which tasks students with designing an explosion that produces the maximum boom within a Pringles container with a fixed volume.