August 2020 Xchange

Resources for Teaching Online in 2020

As we continue to make plans to teach during these uncertain times we have been compiling a list of both new and previously published ChemEd X posts and resources that will be useful to readers while teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revisiting "Build a Boat Collaboration"

Looking for a way to create a classroom culture of trust and collaboration? This challenge can be done in the classroom or at home. After using the activity for many years in her classroom, the author shares her plan for completing it virtually.

Filling the Void: Options for Authentic Investigations Online

With the school year quickly approaching, science teachers will at some point need to decide the role of laboratory investigation within their new learning environment. To help this decision-making process, the author focuses on two available options that he believes have the greatest potential for offering a legitimate approach toward authentic investigations in a digital environment.

AP Chemistry Exam Reflections 2020

These are a few reflections from an AP Chemistry Exam reader after reading the 2020 online AP Chemistry Exam.

Increasing Engagement in Online Lecture Using Zoom Features

One of our new Two Year College (2YC) lead contributors describes some lessons learned for increasing attendance, participation, engagement, discussion, assessment, and building community in the online classroom.

Chemistry of Canning: Classroom Activity Dealing with Concentrations and Molecular Structure

In canning light colored fruits, a chemical pretreatment is used to prevent darkening. This blog describes a classroom activity comprised of questions related to the chemistry of the pretreatment solution. The questions focus on the seminal topics of concentration and molecular structure.

Check out another of Scott Donnelly's posts: Applying Chemistry Principles to COVID-19: Think-Pair-Share Questions - Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 works inside the human body is every bit about chemistry as it is about biology as it is about physiology.

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

As the chemistry education has contemplated how to move chemistry labs online, we need to carefully analyze what content to keep and what content to get rid of, why we present the content in the ways that we do, and how to change that presentation for online learning.

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

The author describes two metacognitive learning activities that are easy to incorporate into an online learning environment.

Colorful Copper Chemistry around the Campfire

Learn how to form a blue-green copper compound on a penny, and then use that compound to make green flames. This is a great summer time activity for your next campfire!

Benefits of Teaching Chemistry Online

Twelve years teaching a fully online GOB (General Organic Biochemistry) chemistry course have revealed many benefits for faculty and students alike. This blog focuses on some positive aspects of teaching online.

Lycopodium Powder “Dragon Sneeze” Blocked with a Face Mask

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. Related: Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Mask-wearing with Liquid Nitrogen - Liquid nitrogen is used to visualize the aerosol particles emitted while speaking, coughing, breathing, and sneezing.

The Alchemy of Us - How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another

Ainissa Ramirez has crafted a great story book that introduces the non scientist reader to the idea of material science. Does material science influence people or do people influence material science?

Check out two other Picks published recently

"Have you already HEARD about it? - An AP Chemistry podcast!" The episodes follow the updated CED and each episode is under 10 minutes in length, so students are able to squeeze in a quick, effective review session even if they don’t have a ton of time to do so.

Professional Development Opportunity: Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program - An 11month fellowship in Washington DC

Chemistry of Brewing Part I: The Malt

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.