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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > June  >
In the Classroom
Using News Assignments To Develop Skills for Learning about Science from Public Information Sources
Mary M. Walczak
Department of Chemistry, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 55057
Cover
June 2007
Vol. 84 No. 6
p. 961
Abstract
Assignments based on contemporary issues with a science and technology basis were developed for use in general education chemistry classes. Students learned about issues such as the influenza vaccine through newspaper articles and other information sources available to the general public. The projects included in-class discussion, independent research, and a culminating opinion paper in which students presented their opinions and supported them with evidence from their research. This paper describes the news assignments, strategies adopted to help students develop skills at evaluating Web source reliability and independent research and analysis, and factors to consider if adopting the assignments.
Supplement
Several items described in this paper are available: the informed consent letter and form; the Web site evaluation form; the guiding questions for the news assignments; the complete assignment annotated with cognitive domains; and the grading rubric using in the Semester 2 course.
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Citation
Walczak, Mary M. J. Chem. Educ. 2007, 84, 961.
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Keywords
Communication / Writing; Curriculum; General Public; High School / Introductory Chemistry; Nonmajor Courses; Public Understanding / Outreach
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History
Created:
Last Updated:
4/24/2007
5/2/2007
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