PCDG - DEFINE OBJECTIVES
Posted: 28 May 2009, 11:10
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
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