scholarly journals Teaching chemistry through contemporary research versus using a historical approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Blonder ◽  
Rachel Mamlok-Naaman

AbstractTwo different approaches for chemistry education are presented in this paper: teaching and learning chemistry through contemporary research and using a historical approach. Essential dimensions in science education are used to study the differences between the two approaches. This includes the rationale of each approach, the scientific content, as well as students’ and teachers’ perspectives. At first glance, the two approaches look different and even contradict each other. However, a deeper investigation shows that there are common themes that connect the two approaches. Chemistry education is used to represent the historical approach and Nanoscale Science and Teachnology (NST) in chemistry education is used as the context for learning science through a contemporary research approach. The paper can be used by chemistry teachers as a preliminary guide for consideration of adapting one of these approaches in their class.

Author(s):  
Simo Tolvanen ◽  
Maija Aksela ◽  
Maija Ahola ◽  
Outi Haatainen ◽  
Jarkko Huusko ◽  
...  

In spring 2013, students attending the course The Central Areas of Chemistry Education II studied the history of key chemistry concepts as well as the research on the use of historical approach to chemistry teaching. Based on the research literature, they produced materials for chemistry teaching in secondary and upper secondary school. In addition to teaching the concepts and phenomena of chemistry, the historical approach was used to deal with nature of chemistry as a science. In the articles, the students present the theoretical background for historical approach and history related to the produced material. The teaching materials (in Finnish) can be found online from the site of KEMMA Centre for Chemistry Education: http://www.luma.fi/kemma.


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-147
Author(s):  
Marina Miyuko Akutagawa Tacoshi ◽  
Carmen Fernandez

Assessment of learning plays a central role in the teaching-learning process, and it has been extensively investigated due to the recognized necessity of adjusting didactic models to the new curricula and social demands. The knowledge of assessment is considered one of the components of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) by some authors and for other authors is considered one component of the knowledge base for teaching. It is also recognized the strong link between knowledge of the educational ends, goals, purposes and values and the knowledge of assessment procedures. In this work, results focused on ten chemistry teachers are presented with the main goal of assessing and describing the knowledge of assessment practices and its close relationship with the purposes and educational aims. The results of the current study are based on semi-structured interviews, schools’ educational projects, questionnaires, evaluations and teacher lesson plans. The data suggest that there exists an inconsistency in the discourse regarding general education and chemistry education. Although the discourse at all levels, including educational projects, planning and interviews, can be considered as innovative, in actual practice we observed a strong tendency toward the teacher-centered approach and summative assessment. The results show that, in general, the investigated chemistry teachers lack the intrinsic knowledge to elaborate questions that assess students´ higher-order thinking, to use assessment results to improve teaching and learning, to inform planning, and ultimately, to perform assessments for learning that regulate and promote the learning process, in line with their own beliefs regarding the objectives of chemical education. As a result, we can infer problems in other PCK components of these teachers. Keywords: assessment, chemistry teacher education, knowledge base of teaching, pedagogical content knowledge.


Author(s):  
Maija Aksela ◽  
Simo Tolvanen ◽  
Jan Jansson ◽  
Veli-Matti Vesterinen

Historical approach is one way of supporting the learning of concepts and phenomena of chemistry, and nature of chemistry. In this article, project works dealing with the topics to chemistry (organic reactions and synthesis, acid and alkali oxides, mass and mole, Le Châtelier’s principle, atom models, electrochemistry, gas laws, and periodic table of elements) by the students of Central Topics of Chemistry Teaching II course are being presented. First, based on research literature, a summary on how history is used to teach each topic is presented in English or in Finnish, with the results of a case study regarding each topic. In most of the presented studies, it was noted that using historical approach increased the interest towards the subject. All designed materials and lesson plans can be found online: www.luma.fi/materiaalit. They can easily be implemented in chemistry teaching on different levels of education.


Author(s):  
Peng He ◽  
Changlong Zheng ◽  
Tingting Li

This study aims to develop and validate a new instrument for measuring chemistry teachers’ perceptions of Pedagogical Content Knowledge for teaching Chemistry Core Competencies (PCK_CCC) in the context of new Chinese chemistry curriculum reform. The five constructs and the initial 17 items in the new instrument were contextualized by the PCK pentagon model (Park S. and Oliver J. S., (2008), J. Res. Sci. Teach., 45(7), 812–834.) with the notions of the Senior High School Chemistry Curriculum Standards (Ministry of Education, P. R. China, 2017). 210 chemistry teachers from a University-Government-School initiative voluntarily participated in this study. The findings from item analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis provide sufficient empirical evidence to support the convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument. The concurrent validity of the instrument was confirmed by testing mean differences among teacher demographic groups. The high Cronbach's coefficient alpha values show good internal consistency reliability of the instrument. Integrating the evidence from theory and data, we documented a valid and reliable PCK_CCC instrument with five constructs consisting of 16 items. This study provides a thorough process for developing and validating instruments that address teacher perceptions of their PCK in a particular subject domain. The valid and reliable PCK_CCC instrument would be beneficial for teacher education researchers and teacher professional programs.


BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rona Nsouli ◽  
Dimitrios Vlachopoulos

Abstract Background Our transition to an “information society” means that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become integral to our lives. ICT has also become an essential aspect of medical institutions and healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses are required to use ICT in their daily work. In Lebanon, however, due to political factors, many universities have not introduced technology or any form of ICT in their curricula. Institutions of higher education do use technology in various ways, however, successful incorporation of ICT in education requires acceptance by instructors who are expected to use ICT in teaching practices. Although international findings reveal that ICT should be used in nursing education, some faculty members experience difficulty integrating it. Method A mixed methodological research approach was used to investigate the attitudes of nursing teaching staff toward the use of ICT in nursing education. Results Our findings revealed three categories of faculty with differing attitudes to the use of ICT in teaching and learning: pioneers, faculty members who have developed positive attitudes toward ICT usage; followers, faculty members with neutral attitudes; and resisters, faculty members with negative attitudes. Conclusions Identification of the nursing faculty members’ attitude toward ICT and the challenges faced by them contributes to the integration of ICT into nursing curricula and further development of educational practices.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Alicia Cooper Stapp ◽  
Gerogianna Mann ◽  
Laurel Lambert ◽  
Kenya Wolff

Abstract Objective: Healthy eating behaviors are often developed early in life, yet nutrition is rarely emphasized in early childhood education. Integration of nutrition into academic content is warranted, still, its ability to positively impact teaching and learning has been understudied. Therefore, this study explored the feasibility of application in the classroom and the perceived usability of a nutrition-integrated pilot curriculum. Design: Early childhood teachers’ perceptions of four nutrition-integrated lessons were explored through a qualitative research approach. Data were collected through pre- and post-focus groups, lesson observations, and teacher feedback. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and supplemented with observations and lesson feedback. Setting: This pilot study took place in Northwest Mississippi at three preschools which are part of the Mississippi Early Learning Collaborative. Participants: A non-probability convenience sample was utilized to acquire participants. Ten early childhood teachers and 132 Pre-K4 students participated in the study. Results: Three themes emerged and were categorized accordingly: (a) preconceived concern of the unknown versus experienced reality; (b) promoting buy-in and engagement through hands-on learning experiences; and (c) manifestation of perceived prioritization. Conclusions: Nutrition-integrated lessons were reported to be creative, facilitate positive food behaviors, and highly engaging for teachers and children. Concerns for new and unfamiliar curriculum were noted but could be alleviated with more detailed instructions. Future nutrition-integrated curriculum efforts should include detailed video instructions and offer a gradual and flexible schedule allowing teacher autonomy in how to prioritize implementation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naama Benny ◽  
Ron Blonder

The current study aims at better understanding the factors that promote and hinder chemistry teachers in teaching a gifted student in their regular chemistry class. In addition, it provides evidence of ways that teachers perceive a professional development course dealing with a gifted student in a mixed-abilities science classroom. Eighty-four photonarratives were collected from 14 chemistry teachers that participated in the course about teaching a gifted student in a regular classroom (41 promoting, 43 hindering factors). Factors that concern chemistry education specifically as well as general practices were raised by the teachers. The teachers were asked to “take a picture” (namely, of an external object or person); they considered most of the factors to be internal factors that are dependent on themselves and therefore concluded that they have the power to influence them. The internal factors can be addressed in the PD course; however the external factors should be managed by the school principal and district educational administration.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Juntunen ◽  
M. K. Aksela

This article analyses Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in chemistry by reviewing existing challenges and future possibilities on the levels of the teacher and the student. Pedagogical frameworks that are found eligible in practice are reviewed. Lesson themes that are suitable for implementing socio-scientific issues (SSI) related to ESD into basic chemistry education at schools are discussed. Based on this analysis, three new demonstrative pedagogical models for ESD in chemistry are presented to help guide the work of teachers. The models draw on an interdisciplinary reading of research in the field of SSI-based science education, sustainability science, green chemistry and environmental education. The current state of ESD in Finnish chemistry education is used as an example case throughout the article. Two tasks where future development is required were recognised. The first task concerns supporting chemistry teachers in overcoming the challenges with SSI and ESD they face in their work. The second task is to ensure that students are more often provided with more relevant and flexible chemistry content and studying methods.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bilek ◽  
◽  
Katerina Chroustova ◽  
Jiri Rychtera ◽  
Veronika Machkova ◽  
...  

The research was focused on the teacher’s opinions about the key and critical points of the lower secondary chemistry curriculum in the Czech Republic. Through the interviews with 40 chemistry teachers from four Czech regions was gained information about what teachers named as critical topics and what as key topics in early chemistry school contents. Some problems were identified mainly with cognition overload of learners and the necessity to realize stronger connections to everyday life and forming science literacy. Keywords: chemistry teachers’ opinions, early chemistry education, key points of the curriculum, critical points of the curriculum.


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