two-year college

COVID-19: Data vs Evidence

Scott Donnelly | Mon, 07/06/2020 - 15:45

The practice and the promulgation of science, its ideas, and knowledge acquired about how the biotic and abiotic world works depend significantly on what words are chosen to communicate scientific ideas, methods, thought, and information. This blog post looks at how a recently published NY Times article on the growing evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be transmitted via the air can be used in the classroom to promote discussion and challenge students to think about the distinction between data and evidence. If applicable, it could be expanded to also include the difference between opinion and information, if desired.

Chemistry of Brewing Part I: The Malt

Jerry Godbout | Sun, 07/05/2020 - 20:10

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The process of making beverages from fermented grain is a chemical synthesis slightly newer than human civilization itself. This article descibes the chemistry of the first step- malting the raw mature grain.

Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Mask-wearing with Liquid Nitrogen

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

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

Lycopodium Powder “Dragon Sneeze” Blocked with a Face Mask

Dean Campbell | Mon, 06/22/2020 - 08:20

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The purpose of this variation on the “dragon’s breath” demonstration is to illustrate that face masks can diminish the movement of particles in the air, an important idea in public health.

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.

Ice Cores, Stable Isotopes, Climate Change, and Chemistry

Thomas Cox | Thu, 06/11/2020 - 18:38

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Ice core science is truly cross-disciplinary as it draws extensively from chemistry, geophysics, geology, engineering, oceanography, microbiology, statistics, a deep understanding of historical events, atmospheric science, and climate science. And general chemistry topics include solubility, concentration, phase diagrams and changes, and stable isotopes in addition to many others. Let's take a first look at how ice core science can be used in teaching chemistry.

Evaluating students' written work

ACCT Admin | Wed, 06/10/2020 - 13:48

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Formative assessment is an important component of teaching as it enables teachers to enhance student learning. The written work that students produce on formative assessment tasks can be used to uncover student thinking and inform the decisions teachers make on how to support individual student learning.

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...

Metabolic Marvels of Bear Hibernation- Part 4

Scott Donnelly | Tue, 05/19/2020 - 20:35

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Welcome to Part 4 in a series of posts looking at the metabolic chemistry that allows a bear to opt to survive winter by not eating at all and by doing so increase its chances of dying from starvation. By the end of hibernation up to a third- and more for a pregnant bear- of a bear's pre-denning mass may have been devoured by the bear's metabolic and physiological needs. A remarkable animal. A remarkable study in biochemistry. Enjoy...