Chemistry in the field and chemistry in the classroom: A disconnect?

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1 Chemistry in the field and chemistry in the classroom: A disconnect? July 20, th BCCE - Iowa State University Karen L. Evans & Gaea Leinhardt LRDC, University of Pittsburgh Michael Karabinos & David Yaron Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University 1 Pedagogical Organization of Academic Chemistry: Established Content and Analytical chemistry Biochemistry Inorganic chemistry Organic chemistry Physical chemistry Theoretical chemistry 2 But frontier science, which reflects the creativity and progress in academic and industrial research and development, occurs across such boundaries: its [chemistry s] methods, concepts, and practitioners are penetrating virtually every nook and cranny of science and technology. ----I. Amato (Science, 1991) 3 1

2 Is composed of Is composed of Is composed of (Frameworks an expert sifts through to construct an explanation) Nomenclature Types of Reactions Periodicity Stoichiometery Matter Electromagnetism Atoms and Molecules Equilibrium Thermodynamics Heat and Energy Kinetics Property Relationships Radio Label Selectively shut down pathways Correlate Observables Hold one thing fixed while changing another Orbitals Radioactivity Acid and Base Redox Precipitation Organic Gasses Acids and Bases in Solution What is a Metal, Crystal, Salt? Solutions Phases of Matter Liquid, Solid, Gas Catalysis Similar structure as an explanation Scavenge O 2 Block a functional group Atomic Configuration Lewis Dot what you have) Molecular VSEPR Qualitative Analysis (What is its ) Quantitative Analysis (How much do you have) Investigation Separation Format Reactions Super Molecular Molecular Atomic Radioactive Dating Microscopy Techniques Scattering Techniques Titration Spectroscopy Calorimetry Extraction Chromatography Distillation Filtration Stoichiometery UV/Vis IR NMR MassSpec Paper TLC Gas Column HPLC Catalysts Materials New Elements Energy Pharmaceuticals Food and Health Polymers Simple Molecules 3-D Networks Chemical Design Biological Engineering Separation Formulation Units Mole Molarity Partial Pressure Non-Biological Biological Molecular Crystals Metals / Alloys / Semiconductors Covalent Bonding Non Covalent Bonding Extraction Chromatography Distillation Filtration Simple Organic Transition Metal Complexes (Metal Ligand) Van der Waals / Electrostatic Ionic / Alloys Paper TLC Gas Column HPLC Two Centuries of Chemistry: From Discrete Field to Ubiquitous Presence What are the current valued activities of chemistry? Is the fundamental organization of the textbook based vision of chemistry up to date? 4 A Conceptual Framework for Chemistry EXPLAIN ANALYZE SYNTHESIZE 5 Conceptual Framework: Upper Levels 6 2

3 the Framework Are some activities missing from the framework? Are some activities present in the framework but not in the domain of chemistry? 7 Evidence for the Domain of Chemistry Represented in the Conceptual Framework Nobel Prizes ( ) 2002 New York Times Science Times (54 reports) 2002 Scientific American News Scan (32 reports) 8 Chemistry Endeavors Honored by the Nobel Prizes ( ) SYNTHESIZE 27% EXPLAIN ANALYZE 33% 9 3

4 10 Chemistry Endeavors Reflected in News Reports (2002) Evidence from Textbooks Aligned with National Science Education Standards Modern Chemistry (2002) Merrill Chemistry (1998) ChemCom (2002) Objectives reflect focus of classroom chemistry 11 Textbook Coverage during a First High School Chemistry Course Measure Modern Merrill Chem Com # pages % of pages covered 66% 58% 10 # objectives % objectives covered 65% 53%

5 10 Chemistry Endeavors Reflected by Textbook Objectives Chemistry Endeavors as Reflected by the Nobel Prizes, News Reports, and Textbooks OUTSIDE SYNTHESIZE ANALYZE EXPLAIN Distribution of Traditional Textbook Objectives what you have) 15 5

6 Distribution of ChemCom Objectives 16 Scope of EXPLAIN Objectives EXPLAIN 17 Themes Radioactivity (Frameworks an expert sifts through to construct an explanation) Types of Reactions Periodicity Stoichiometery Matter Electromagnetism Atoms and Molecules Equilibrium Thermodynamics Heat and Energy Acid and Base Redox Precipitation Organic Gasses Acids and Bases in Solution What is a Metal, Crystal, Salt? Solutions Phases of Matter Liquid, Solid, Gas Textbook EXPLAIN activity is presented as well-established content skills to be mastered by student Authentic EXPLAIN chemistry activity couples hypothesis generation with hypothesis testing Kinetics Catalysis Property Relationships Similar structure as an explanation 18 6

7 Themes: News Reports vs. Textbook Objectives Theme News Reports Merrill Chem Modern Chem ChemCom Reaction Type 25% 4% 14% 24% EM & Prop. of Atoms & Molecules 31% 1 12% 13% Stoichiometry 2% 6% 7% 5% Prop. of Matter 23% 51% 44% 24% 19 Themes: News Reports vs. Textbook Objectives, cont. Theme News Reports Merrill Chem Modern Chem ChemCom Periodicity 1% 18% 15% 2.5% Equilibrium & Kinetics & Thermo 8% 8% 4% 17% Struct.-Prop. Relationships 11% 0 %1 14.5% 20 Themes: News Reports vs. Textbook Objectives NEWS REPORTS MODERN CHEM MERRILL CHEM CHEMCOM 2 1 Reaction Type EM/Prop. Atoms & Molecules Stoichiometry Prop. of Matter Periodicity Equilibrium/Kinetics/ Thermo Struc.-Prop. Relationships 21 7

8 CONCLUSION There is a disconnect between the focus of high school chemistry and what chemists do NO! 22 Effects of the Disconnect Educational goal of a coherent knowledge base not met since a skills-first agenda yields inert knowledge that is rarely usable or memorable. Educational goal of basic scientific literacy not met since current instruction ignores 2/3 of the domain of chemistry. Beginning students are not engaged in the wonder and excitement of the discovery and creativity at the heart of chemistry. 23 Repairing the disconnect: Use evidence in deciding what to teach Realize that most students do not study any chemistry after high school. Introduce tools and skills on a need-to-know basis Emulate the domain s valued activities in instruction by provding scaffolded problem-solving scenarios situated within the context of frontier science storylines* * Using and Authoring Virtual Lab Activities for Introductory Chemistry. A workshop presented Wednesday at 2 PM by David Yaron and Michael Karabinos, Carnegie Mellon University ( 24 8