When it is infeasible to have students do some experimental parts of discovery laboratory experiments, instructors can demonstrate the reactions for students to evaluate as part of their discovery process. As an alternative to time-consuming and hazardous live demonstrations, we have developed video demonstrations of reactions with pauses for students to discover concepts. Digitally animated videos of two experiments, "Some Reactions of Cations" and "Periodicity in the Activity Series of Metals", were filmed and used in inorganic chemistry and honors-level general chemistry courses; we believe that the videos are also suitable for use in secondary schools. Quantitative and qualitative educational research was carried out in the inorganic class comparing the use of videos and live instructor demonstrations. No statistically significant difference was found in any learning outcome and no clear-cut student preference emerged. The significant saving of instructor time and the reduction of risk by using the videos therefore appears to have been accomplished without harm to student learning or interest.
The entire contents of the two Discovery Videos are available as segmented video clips at JCE WebWare.
Instructions and scripts for the video demonstrations, a set of quiz and exam questions, student worksheets, and honors-level student responses to the questionnaire are available here.
The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.
Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students.
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.
For journals in other fields of chemistry visit ACS Publications.
Contents
Always in the