ModChem Day 15: Last Day!

I write this last post for Modeling Chemistry as we prepare to go back home. It is just too hot in Arizona that 75℉ is cool here. The air conditioning system is set to 75℉. At home, 75℉ is when I start to wonder about moving to a cooler region of the country…or maybe goingContinue reading “ModChem Day 15: Last Day!”

Day 13: Internal Structure

Multiple Representations Reading An Overview of Recent Research on Multiple Representations – David Rosengrant, Eugenia Etkina and Alan Van Heuvelen is the name of the article we read. We continued the discussion on how learning styles were preferred rather than actually beneficial to learning. Despite the amount of students saying they preferred a certain learningContinue reading “Day 13: Internal Structure”

Day 10: Learning Styles, Mixtures, and Compounds

Learning Styles Reading Discussion We had a pretty spirited conversation about the use of Learning Styles in education. So much funds and monies have been spent on workshops, resources, etc. to incorporate learning styles in the classroom. As an undergraduate student, I do remember one of my Psych professors saying that people may have aContinue reading “Day 10: Learning Styles, Mixtures, and Compounds”

Day 7 & 8: Energy, States of Matter, Mixtures & Compounds

Gabel Reading We discussed how in 1996, when this article was first presented, there was a call for more Chemistry Education Research, but here we are in 2026…saying the same thing. The conclusion I ended up writing in my notes was that students will ask themselves: How do I know this is factual? It critiquesContinue reading “Day 7 & 8: Energy, States of Matter, Mixtures & Compounds”

ModChem Day 6: Heat Capacity

Talanquer Reading The reading discussion focused on Johnstone’s Triangle. Chemistry education rarely gives opportunity to bring all three: Macroscopic, Submicroscopic, and Symbolic together. Yet, all three are (mostly) required for students to gain a deep understanding that we’re seek. As educators, it is easy for us to move through between the different representations of Chemistry.Continue reading “ModChem Day 6: Heat Capacity”

ModChem Day 4: Pressure, Volume, and Particles in Motion

Wenning Article Discussion Some takeaways from the group discussion of the article: U2 – Energy and Particles in Motion New unit lab/demo. To open up the unit, we watched Mitch light a match, blow it out, and waited. Whenever the smell got to us, we raised our hands to show that we smelled the sulfur,Continue reading “ModChem Day 4: Pressure, Volume, and Particles in Motion”

ModChem Day 3: End of Unit 1

Hestenes Paper Discussion Lab: Gases There wasn’t much given in terms of how to do the lab. There was no write-up of the procedures to follow. Because it was one of the first tasks of the day and I’m not taking 5 other classes, I was able to follow. I wonder if I should giveContinue reading “ModChem Day 3: End of Unit 1”

ModChem Day 2: Sig Figs and Density

Scale Reading, Uncertainty, Sig Figs We quickly reviewed the SigFig rules, but I definitely felt unsusre of myself. It may be how my students might feel. I keep forgetting which trailing zeros count and which don’t. I really like how my learning partner, Rich, showed me what would count as “significant.” When completing the ScaleContinue reading “ModChem Day 2: Sig Figs and Density”

Day 15: Chemistry and Algebra

Looks like this week’s theme is: ALGEBRA We were working on finding the average atomic mass of elements’ isotopes. This involved percentages, solving for one unknown…and solving for two unknowns. Most students were comfortable with percentages and solving for one unknown. Once we got to solving for two unknowns, we kind of gave up. ThereContinue reading “Day 15: Chemistry and Algebra”

Chem Day 11: Periodic Table continued

I had big plans for Day 11. We spent most of the class completing the Periodic Table instead. We had to take some time to review the Lesson 8: What Comes Around, Goes Around that was assigned for homework. Student feedback was that it was repetitive. I said that it was supposed to be repetitive.Continue reading “Chem Day 11: Periodic Table continued”