Phosphorus – a “political” element for transdisciplinary chemistry education

Abstract

The paper describes a curriculum innovation project for integrating the sustainability-oriented socio-scientific issue of phosphate recovery into undergraduate chemistry education. Justification for the topic is derived from the importance of responsible use of phosphates as fertilizers for achieving some of the sustainable development goals issued by the United Nations in 2015, but also by the consideration of the phosphorus biochemical flow into the environment in the concept of the world’s planetary boundaries. Integration of the topic into undergraduate general chemistry was operated by a digital learning environment providing the base for a transdisciplinary approach towards the topic. Findings are reported from an implementation case in a research university in the USA.

Promoting Education for Sustainable Development with an Interactive Digital Learning Companion Students Use to Perform Collaborative Phosphorus Recovery Experiments and Reporting

“…The basis for a transdisciplinary approach and the connection of formal and nonformal learning is embedded in a digital learning environment that is divided into three parts: preparation; laboratory work; and follow-up. 5 The preparation explains "the economic, societal, and geographical dimensions of the topic" in a digital presentation (using Prezi). 5 Afterwards, pupils compare different industrial recovery processes in a laboratory experiment.…”

“…5 The preparation explains "the economic, societal, and geographical dimensions of the topic" in a digital presentation (using Prezi). 5 Afterwards, pupils compare different industrial recovery processes in a laboratory experiment. For linking formal education in school and nonformal education in Schülerlabor, the topic content was integrated into a digital learning environment in the context of a virtual learning company.…”

“…Phosphorus is a growth-limiting factor and essential for human beings and plants. For this reason, it is an essential component in fertilizers and necessary for agriculture . Phosphate is vital for the economy, but there is also a high supply risk due to limited resources.…”

“…In this context chemistry topics can be connected to sustainable development. Protection of phosphate resources as a socio-scientific issue allows pupils to see the individual and social relevance and a professional vantage to chemically analyze industrial solution approaches to solve this problem. , Furthermore, interactive widgets can connect different places of learning in a way that links school topic, laboratories experiments, and industrial processes. MLBs serve as a connection, both between formal and nonformal places of learning and between the transfer of competences for pupils. , …”

Nachhaltige Unterrichtsvorschläge zur Stickstoffproblematik

“…Bei den biogeochemischen Flüssen wurde der sichere Handlungsraum jedoch verlassen, wodurch ein hohes Risiko gravierender Folgen für Mensch und Umwelt besteht. Hierzu gehören zum einen die Phosphatproblematik, deren Einbettung in die Nachhaltigkeitsdiskussion des Chemieunterrichts bereits thematisiert wurde [2].…”