November 2020 Xchange

Getting More Students To Come To Office Hours

This blog post describes some strategies, including a tool called Calendly that makes scheduling appointments much easier, which might help increase office hour visitation.

Standards Based Grading and the "Redo" 

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.

Solubility and Concentration - A Free Virtual Chemistry Lab Activity

In this activity, students learn about solubility and concentration. They watch videos that explain the dissolving process, how to calculate the molarity, supersaturation and how to make rock candy. They also use a PhET simulation to explore factors that affect the concentration of a solution. 

Free AP Chemistry Prep Exams for Teachers

Free AP Chemistry prep exams are available for teachers. This is part of a research study occurring through the 2020-2021 year. Enroll today!

The Chemistry of Weight Loss 

We revisit a post by Tom Kuntzleman originally published 4/24/18. If you want to lose weight, you have to burn calories. Anyone who has gone on a diet knows this. But when someone loses weight, have you ever wondered where the lost mass goes?

Thermochemcal Analysis of the Devil's Milkshake

Learn how to thermochemically analyze the Devil's Milkshake chemical demonstration.

Assessments in a Challenging Time

Videos as an Alternative Assessment

In this activity, students express their creativity and show their understanding of concept by creating a video for their final project.

Things Learned from Hybrid Teaching (Part 1)

Ariel Serkin explains her computer set-up and how she manages a hybrid teaching scenario.

JCE 97.11 November 2020 Issue Highlights

The November 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: microplastic contamination and the environment; diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect in chemistry education research and practice; teaching in the time of COVID-19; chemistry and health; service learning; using games to teach; examining structures; solubility; spectroscopy; natural products chemistry; understanding polymer chemistry; materials science; assessment; analyzing student understanding; from the archives: battery explorations.

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. Do you have an activity, strategy or idea to share with the community? Is there a resource you would recommend? We welcome contributions. This list will grow, so check in again to see what has been added.