Curriculum, Pedagogy & Grading Resources

Whiteboarding in a Virtual Classroom with Melissa Hemling

Deanna Cullen | Wed, 01/27/2021 - 16:28

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On January 26, 2021, Melissa Hemling presented a ChemEd X Talk about “whiteboarding” in a hybrid or virtual classroom. Students collaborate in small groups on classkick.com to digitally analyze data, create and modify models, and/or complete practice problems. Melissa shares how she uses the digital whiteboards to gauge student understanding and pinpoint misconceptions like she did pre-COVID. You can watch the edited recording of Melissa's Talk and access the document she shared during the presentation here.

Providing Feedback Remotely with Ariel Serkin

Deanna Cullen | Sat, 01/23/2021 - 16:13

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Providing students with meaningful feedback greatly enhances their learning and achievement. With the move to online and hybrid formats, teachers have had to scramble to modify their usual process for communicating that feedback. On January 21, 2021, Ariel Serkin presented in a ChemEd X Talk about the process she is using and how she is providing feedback to her students remotely. You can watch the edited recording of Ariel's Talk and access the document she shared during the presentation here.

Feedback: A Tool to Help Address the Issues of Time and Engagement

Ben Meacham | Wed, 01/20/2021 - 14:12

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The ability to provide meaningful feedback has been one of the most difficult aspects of hybrid and distance learning. Using the Chrome extension, Mote, allows teachers to attach an audio recording of their feedback to student work.

Program Evaluation Part 1 – My Evaluation Experience

Clarissa Sorens... | Tue, 01/05/2021 - 10:45

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Evaluations are part of everyday life and professional work. This multi-part blog series aims to expand upon the collective understanding of the kinds of evaluations. This, the first post, begins with personal experience with the common kinds of evaluations.

Standards Based Grading and the "Redo"

Chad Husting | Tue, 10/20/2020 - 19:21

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Some teachers do not like the idea of letting students do a "redo" on an assignment. It can, if done carefully, have a positive impact on students learning and the culture of the classroom.

A pedagogic field laboratory for professional development: Windows on the STEM inquiry classroom

Christopher Bauer | Sun, 10/04/2020 - 23:00

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Come explore the “Fire and Ice” pedagogic field laboratory. Follow suggested pathways and perspectives, or blaze your own trails. Visit for 10 minutes or for hours.

NGSS-ify Alka-Seltzer Rocket Activity - With Virtual Options

Stephanie O'Brien | Sun, 10/04/2020 - 16:22

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In this lab students are given a film canister, a quantity of Alka Seltzer of their own choosing and any materials available in the room to investigate factors that affect the rate of reaction. They work with their groups to create CER boards and then the class engages in a Glow and Grow session. Tips for using this activity in a virtual setting are offered as well.

Online Labs and the Question of the Relevance of the Lab Curriculum

Clarissa Sorens... | Thu, 07/16/2020 - 19:10

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This is the first of three consecutive blogs about online labs. This first blog centers on the question, "Is chemistry laboratory coursework still relevant?" The second and third blogs discuss if the lab curricula we currently use is achieving our goals and if lab coursework can be effectively moved to an online platform.

Activities to Promote Higher-Order Thinking in Virtual Asynchronous Chemistry Learning

Josh Kenney | Wed, 07/15/2020 - 15:53

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The 2020 global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 forced millions of teachers to switch from in-person to online instruction. With minimal training in online teaching, many substandard learning environments were quickly rolled out. In this post, the author describes two metacognitive learning activities that are easy to incorporate into an online learning environment.

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.