Making Chemistry Relevant Strategies for Including All Students in a Learner-Sensitive Classroom Environment

by Basu-Dutt, Sharmistha

• ISBN13: 9780470278987
• ISBN10: 0470278986
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-15
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Unique new approaches for making chemistry accessible to diverse studentsStudents' interest and achievement in academics improve dramatically when they make connections between what they are learning and the potential uses of that knowledge i n the workplace and/or in the world at large. Making Chemistry Relevant presents a unique collection of strategies that have been used successfully in chemistry classrooms to create a learner-sensitive environment that enhances academic achievement and social competence of students.Rejecting rote memorization, the book proposes a cognitive constructivist philosophy that casts the teacher as a facilitator helping students to construct solutions to problems. Written by chemistry professors and research groups from a wide variety of colleges and universities, the book offers a number of creative ways to make chemistry relevant to the student, including:Teaching science in the context of major life issues and STEM professionsRelating chemistry to current events such as global warming, pollution, and terrorismIntegrating science research into the undergraduate laboratory curriculumEnriching the learning experience for students with a variety of learning styles as well as accommodating the visually challenged studentsUsing media, hypermedia, games, and puzzles in the teaching of chemistryBoth novice and experienced faculty alike will find valuable ideas ready to be applied and adapted to enhance the learning experience of all their students.

Author Biography

Sharmistha Basu-Dutt is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of Engineering Studies at the University of West Georgia. She has received numerous grants and awards for her groundbreaking projects that integrate education, engineering, and chemistry.

Table of Contents

Contributors	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Editor Profile	p. xiii
Philosophical, Cognitive, and Sociological Roots for Connections in Chemistry Teaching and Learning	p. 1
Chemistry and the Environment: A SENCER Model Course	p. 27
CORD's Applications in Biology/Chemistry: Teaching Science in the Context of Major Life Issues	p. 47
The Science of Terrorism: An Interdisciplinary Course for Nonscience Majors	p. 67
Chemistry for the Twenty-First Century: Bringing the "Real World" into the Lab	p. 87
Student-Centered, Active Learning Pedagogies in Chemistry Education	p. 107
Creating a Relevant, Learner-Centered Classroom for Allied Health Chemistry	p. 127
Working with Chemistry: A Laboratory Inquiry Program	p. 145
Making Chemistry Relevant to Science and Engineering Majors	p. 169
The Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education: Integrating Science Research into the Undergraduate Laboratory Curriculum	p. 193
Enriching the Chemistry Experience for All Students: Sensorial Experiments That Include Visually Challenged Students	p. 207
Media in Chemistry Education	p. 227
A Walk on the Applied Side: Developing Hypermedia for Physical Chemistry	p. 251
Effective Use of Games and Puzzles in the Chemistry Classroom	p. 267
Index	p. 283
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