PCDG - DEFINE OBJECTIVES

[miles]

Hello participants in the PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION GROUP and all interested viewers.
For benefit of newcomers (anyone most welcome to join in) this post is about the development of a discussion group concerned with the provision of practical chemistry in schools. As this is our first public airing I will begin by repeating the original hypothesis below, and follow that with the outcome of a meeting between two participants where an ongoing framework was suggested.
This post is A CALL TO ACTION, and all those interested in the subject should respond with comments to this forum - the initial aim to clarify and set out the way forward so that the real work may be assigned to various volunteers.
THE ORIGINAL HYPOTHESIS
"My hypothesis is that the popularity of chemistry is significantly being eroded by the difficulties of presenting the ‘wow’ factor through inspiring chemistry pracs.This erosion is happening because of time constraints (set up and clean up), OH&S concerns, and equipment difficulties. Also, competing areas of study often lend themselves more readily to generating inspirational experiences for students.
If the hypothesis is correct, this situation should be of concern to Australian educators. My interest is not altruistic, having a commercial interest in producing products that address the above problems.However, there is no reason why commercial interests and teaching interests should not cooperate in improving the position of Chemistry in the curriculum given that Chemistry is one of the cornerstones of Science.
My proposal is that ways to improve the presentation of practical chemistry should be sought out, gathered together, presented in a suitable format, and implemented in the curriculum with the participation of individuals from Government departments, Scientific bodies, Chemistry teachers, laboratory technicians , students, and commercial entities.
Would any Chemistry teachers and laboratory technicians be interested in working on this?

AND THE FIRST MEETING WHERRE WE DISCUSSED HOW TO GET GOING
14 May 2009
Practical chemistry group - #1

Daryl,
Good to meet yesterday in Pomona.
As discussed I am copying this to all persons who have shown interest so far.
We decided that someone needs to lead things at the start and this will be yours truly.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
I will make a list below giving each area a discussion label which people may identify in any response.
DISCUSSION POINT 1 – Establish methodology of communications. (NOW ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS FORUM)
DISCUSSION POINT 2 – Define objectives
2-A: Suggestion for agreement – To facilitate and encourage the doing of practical chemistry by providing technicians, teachers, and students with a rationalized collation of information concerning
Equipment
Use of equipment
experiment and investigation design
working methods
training and knowledge requirements
HSE concerns
time management
equipment management
2-B: We are not trying to modify the curriculum

DISCUSSION POINT 3 - ESTABLISH IMMEDIATE AIMS
3-A: – For discussion and participation by sending in info if requested e.g. photos , recipes, methods, experiences. Each area needs a group or person as project manager to get it all together – volunteers please. Should there be a time frame for this?.
Aims –
i)Equipment - - - build photographic database of equipment with description of ins and outs of each piece e.g. reason for design features – Miles puts his hand up for this but may need help.
ii) Use of equipment - - - build video bank ( is u-tube accessible from school computers?), photos etc. closely related to aim i). Should be presentable to students without fuss i.e. at start of lesson
Again MB can work on this but may need help.
iii) Experiment and investigation design - - - build library of experiments in one place (may already exist) with all other info drawn together in this group. Tailor the experiments to maximize economy, safety, ‘doability’
iv)Working Methods --- List classroom & prep room work requirements and gather techniques and processes that simplify these processes. Also consider safety and economy.
v)Training and knowledge requirements - - - what’s wrong at present?, suggest solution, how can lab techs help themselves as a group (This forum is a start!).
vi) HSE concerns ---- Are emotive and uninformed safety concerns expressed by some people hindering chemistry? What is a rational fear and what is not.? Some good info from UK on this I think. Micro scale chemistry?
vii) Time management ---- Document chemistry time needs for practical work cf. physics, biology, where is the time going? What are the hidden costs of poor equipment and training?,
viii) Equipment management ---- Best ways to: store it, label it, record it, chuck it, display it, mount it, protect it, order it, control it etc

DISCUSSION POINT 4 – WHO ARE WE AIMING THIS AT?
Queensland? Australia? World? Lab techs? Students? Teachers? Library assistants transferred to science dept? Public? Private?

DISCUSSION POINT 5 - WHAT IS THE IDEAL FINAL OUTCOME?
A collation of technical information to our design? another collation of website addresses? Reference resource? teaching and training resource?

DISCUSSION POINT 6 - HOW DO WE DELIVER IT TO USERS?
CD, Paper, website, .pdf file, piggy-back website, copyright, legal concerns, open book

Well that's it for now - please make responses to this forum using the subject title PCDG (practical chemistry discussion group) so that all those interested can readily identify postings. The PCDG should be followed by discussion point e.g. DEFINE OBJECTIVES. So posting heading would look like: PCDG - DEFINE OBJECTIVES
Thanks for wading through this pretty verbal start, now's your chance to put your two bob's worth into teaching and presenting chemistry!
Miles

[Darryl]

I will help as and where I can, but will make a start on points iii (Experiment and investigation design) and also v (training and knowledge requirements).

One question to ask everyone; at what point in their schooling do students start to 'specialise' in science; i.e. start on Physics, Chem, Biol etc? Some schools start in year 10 - how do you find that works and what are the criteria?

I hope this project gets off the ground and has a measure of success, I believe we need more students taking on the sciences.
Darryl

[souj]

Good question Darryl. I am very interested to hear what other schools are teaching in year 10. Maybe we could have a poll- who specialises in year 10, who leaves it until 11,12?

[Darryl]

Hullo again

I feel as though I need to clarify something from my last post -

we are not looking to give people jobs; it is the comments / questions/ suggestions we are primarliy after. Miles and I realise that it will be down to us to get the ball rolling so to speak and so would dearly love any and all relevant comments.
Thanks

[Sassi]

Ok, i think you need to clarify what it is you want here, in a few sentences, concise and clear would be great... Or why not post a question, that way people can reply to a specific questions, which usually leads onto other topics etc.

Sass

[mandersson]

I agree with the two last posts. It all sounds very interesting, but a little bit confusing. Questions would be a good way to do it.

[laurena grieger]

We are currently trying this year for our year 10's - 8 weeks of Physics, 8 weeks of Biology and 8 Weeks of Chemistry. These are being taught by our teachers specialising in these areas. This I believe is working quite well, as the students feedback is that they get a real feel for whether they like it or not. Our last 8 weeks of semester the students will design their own research topic under one of the above sciences and then develop their research.

I hope this helps.

Laurena.

[Darryl]

OK folks, sorry I haven't responded in a while. You know how it gets some times.

Anyway, here are some questions to try an clarify the issue a bit.

The Practical Chemistry Discussion Group is proposing to facilitate and encourage the doing of practical chemistry. It is hoped that technicians, teachers, and students could be provided with a rationalized collation of information and tools to help in this aim:

1. the management and use of equipment,
2. experiment and investigation design
3. working methods
4. training and knowledge requirements
5. WHS concerns
6. time management

So, that is some of the aim; we are looking for

a) further additions regarding information needed; or
b) Suggestions where information concerning the above is already accessible and in one place?
Darryl.

[Darryl]

Laurena, thanks for your response. Do all year 10s do this program and what text books do you use? I note that your say that students like the format. I would be interested in knowing what concepts / skills are taught during these 24 weeks; espcially for the chem and physics.
Darryl