Describes a novel modeling and simulation package and assesses its impact on students' understanding of chemistry. Connected Chemistry was implemented inside the NetLogo modeling environment. Using Connected Chemistry, students employed problem -solving techniques characterized by stronger attempts at conceptual understanding and logical…

Recommends using educational technology to present images of chemical reactions to students instead of doing time-consuming live demonstrations. Uses a VCR to show hazardous chemical reactions, give instructions to organize students into groups, think about data, draw conclusions, and design an experiment. Reports that the quality of learning from…

Presents an instrumental analysis laboratory section of a problem-based format that includes elements of authentic, investigative, and cooperative learning. Discusses students' attitudes, achievement, and effects of the problem-based instruction on the learning process and higher order thinking in laboratory students. (KHR)

Describes an open-ended, inquiry-based chemistry lab in which students design and construct snow globes. Encourages the development of problem solving skills. (DDR)

Reports research that investigates the encoding that students use to develop molecular models at the undergraduate level. Focuses on the translation between symbolic and subatomic representations of molecules. (Contains 31 references.) (DDR)

Explores whether exposure to increasingly sophisticated mental models at different points in a chemistry education class showed up in patterns of preference and use of models in interpreting physical properties and phenomena. (Contains 92 references.) (DDR)

Examines the impact of computer animations that illustrate chemical reactions occurring inside a battery on students enrolled in a college introductory chemistry course. Implies that instructor-guided animations may help students acquire a better understanding of targeted chemistry concepts, and that the relationship between narration, spatial…

Proposes a new model for an academic chemistry library based on experiences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in which primary access to journals is electronic and print journals are archived unbound in a remote storage facility following local access for one year. Discusses results of a feasibility study. (Author/LRW)

Provides an overview of the area of quantitative research in chemical education, which involves the same components that comprise chemical research: (1) a question or hypothesis; (2) research design; (3) data collection and analysis; and (4) interpretation of results. Includes questions of interest to chemical educators; areas of quantitative…

Discusses appropriate methodologies for investigating how learning occurs in the laboratory. Presents two techniques, concept mapping and V-diagramming, which can be effective research tools in probing students' understanding of chemical principles. These techniques can also be effective instructional tools that help students integrate lecture…

Outlines a strategy for the teaching of equilibrium in a poolside atmosphere. Illustrates the practical application of knowledge about equilibrium as demonstrated by pool staff as they satisfy the needs of both the swimmers and local health inspectors. (DDR)

Provides descriptions of a range of resources and methods that can be used to produce metals such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, and molybdenum. Details on equipment and safety precautions are also outlined. (DDR)

Explains a series of experiments that enable students to discover the internal and external structure of the vanilla pod, isolate the chemical constituents of the pod, identify vanillin in the pod extract, and compare extracts across varieties of vanilla. (DDR)

Describes computer-animated sequences and interactive multimedia instructional programs for use in introductory chemistry which allow students to explore electrochemical cells. The workbench section enables students to manipulate the experimental apparatus, chemicals, and instruments in order to design and build an experiment. The interactive…

Describes a graduate seminar on race and ethnicity in the teaching of chemistry. Tables show representative titles from the course bibliography and course announcement for Chemistry 901, covering such issues as the culture of science and multicultural teaching strategies. Discusses course requirements and syllabus. Concludes with course feedback…