Chemistry may evoke interest, antipathy, or disinterest in students. Whether students are caught up in the excitement of chemical demonstrations or laboratory experiments, or experiencing difficulties in understanding abstract topics like atomic structure and the mole concept, chemistry is nonetheless undeniably important to both students and the public. Many significant, positive results derive from chemistry, from the discovery of elements to recent spectrometric studies done on Martian soil. Negative results are attributable to chemistry, as well, such as chemical industrial accidents and the use of chemicals as weapons of mass destruction. Chemistry teachers have to prepare students for examinations yet we must also create learning environments and practices that address the affective aspect of students learning. By doing this we can fully engage students and maintain their interest and excitement in learning chemistry. Singapore, a small island-state in Southeast Asia, has a school curriculum that provides teachers with many opportunities to integrate cognitive and affective learning experiences in their chemistry lessons. Although it is a typical examination-focused curriculum, the pedagogical strategies employed both in and out of school can be uniquely interwoven with informal learning experiences for students, thus narrowing the cognitive and affective gap. In the long term, this may help in building a community that appreciates, or at least understands, the effect of chemistry in our daily lives.
Analogies / Transfer; Curriculum; High School / Introductory Chemistry; Industrial Chemistry; Public Understanding / Outreach; Standards National / State; Student / Career Counseling
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.
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