Presents ideas to promote higher-level thinking in general chemistry classrooms/laboratories, focusing on applications of Patricia E. Blosser's taxonomy to enhance students' convergent/divergent/evaluative thinking. Compares Blosser's taxonomy with Bloom and Piagetian taxonomies, suggesting a combined Blosser/Piagetian taxonomy to achieve goals of…

Explains how the Mathcad computer program can promote the development of higher-order chemical thinking skills of students taking junior-level physical chemistry courses. The kinetics of first-order series and reversible reactions is used as an example of how this can be implemented within an interactive laboratory or lecture format. (PVD)