The June 2020 Xchange highlights some of the contributions that have been published on ChemEd X over the past month. We hope you will take a moment to check in and see what you may have missed.
Chemistry Experiments with the Flame TubeThe 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... |
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Using Desmos to Create an Organic Nomenclature Card Sorting ActivityDesmos 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. |
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Ice Cores, Stable Isotopes, Climate Change, and ChemistryIce 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. |
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Pivot Interactives—A Resource All Chemistry Teachers Should Know AboutAs 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. This pick was published December 2018. Ben Meacham said then that having the freedom to create or edit something within his instruction based on the needs of his students was important to him. So, when he found out the activities in Pivot Interactives are completely customizable, he was thrilled. Ben also wrote Measuring Surface Tension to Investigate Intermolecular Forces in May 2019. He used the lesson to introduce the topic with a data-to-concepts approach. |
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Mt. St. Helens 40 Years Later: Getting More from Soda Volcano DemonstrationsPotential enhancements to soda-based demonstrations of volcanic eruptions are described. Depending on the specific demonstration setup, outgassing of carbonated sodas can represent low-viscosity lava flows or more violent production of pyroclastic materials. These simple demos can be used as stand-alone experiments or in concert with other activities. |
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NGSS during e-Learning Part 1With the end of school upon us and the possibility of remote instruction in the fall, here are some techniques to address four NGSS science and engineering practices; Planning and Carrying out Investigations, Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Developing and Using Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data. |
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What’s going on inside their head? Student-made videos for metacognitive problem solvingMetacognition 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 chemistrty instruction. |
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Planning for an Uncertain FutureThoughts and tips on planning for an uncertain future. |
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Metabolic Marvels of Bear Hibernation- Part 4Part 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. |
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APTeach: A Home for AP Chemistry EducatorsThe mission of APTeach is to create a collaborative community where teachers can share ideas about student miconceptions, pedagogy, improving student understanding, and implementing best practices for teaching chemistry.
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JCE 97.06 June 2020 Issue HighlightsThe June 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Mary Saecker highlights the content along with related links from the archives. |
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