Using Chemistry as a Medium for Energy Education: Suggestions for Content and Pedagogy in a Nonmajors Course

Shane, Joseph W.; Bennett, Steven; Hirschl-Mike, Rhonda

doi:10.1021/ed100023t

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The way chemistry teachers promote ethical values in their chemistry classrooms, often in implicit ways, is decisive for the efficacy of sustainable development education. 29 Chemistry educators can play a fundamental role by helping students to understand how fields such as economics, politics, and law interact with natural sciences by a systemic point of view, in order to establish rational energy policies, to promote technological innovation, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, 30 and so on. Furthermore, disciplinary and interdisciplinary concept teaching by a systemic approach enhances students' HOCS (higher order cognitive skills).…”

Section: Teachers' Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

Surveying Italian and International Baccalaureate Teachers to Compare Their Opinions on System Concept and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Chemistry Education

Celestino

Marchetti

2020

J. Chem. Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper focuses on system concept use in teaching either chemical core concepts or interdisciplinary chemistry-related topics. The system concept is important in order to develop global competences, and chemistry teaching plays a key role in this context. A questionnaire has been administered to two different samples, Italian teachers and International Baccalaureate (IB) teachers, in order to investigate their opinions about the issues involved. The most significant differences and similarities emerging from the survey have been analyzed mostly by dendrograms and then commented on. With due caution, it is possible to suppose similar attitudes in the two groups of teachers except for some aspects. For example, the analysis of system concept knowledge within pure chemistry highlights some deficiencies: Italian teachers in particular show a low level of epistemological awareness about the systemic character of chemistry, whereas its knowledge would allow not only a chemistry teaching improvement but also a productive use of chemical explanations in other scientific and nonscientific fields, especially in the social sciences; as a consequence, it would facilitate interdisciplinary teaching. Therefore, science teachers need epistemological insight into chemical systemic aspects, that may be provided by high quality textbooks and training initiatives focusing on the systemic character of chemistry and its interdisciplinary connections. In an analysis of chemistry teachers only, Italian teachers support interdisciplinary teaching more strongly than IB teachers, despite the rigidity and the state of crisis of the Italian education system, often attributed to a lack of broad-minded teachers. This evidence indicates a promising resource for the Italian education system. Moreover, a similar kind of questionnaire can be utilized by other education researchers in order to isolate and analyze some teachers’ attitudes regardless the very different education systems in which every sample works.

show abstract

Section: Teachers' Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

Surveying Italian and International Baccalaureate Teachers to Compare Their Opinions on System Concept and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Chemistry Education

Celestino

Marchetti

2020

J. Chem. Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Chemistry courses designed for nonscience majors offer more opportunity for chemistry instructors to use creativity in teaching, a luxury often absent while teaching core chemistry curriculum. The choice of content and organization of a course for nonscience majors is often left to the instructor’s discretion, adding versatility in course design. − Additionally, students who take a nonscience majors chemistry course come from a variety of disciplines, each bringing a unique skill set and perspective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting Student Interest in Chemical Concepts by Implementing Creative Learning Activities in a Chemistry in Society Course for Nonscience Majors

Brouet

Hupp

2013

J. Chem. Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Creative activities designed for a nonscience-majors undergraduate chemistry course are described. Course topics were chosen in an effort to promote student interest, yet provide a means to address chemical concepts. Fundamental chemistry principles were presented in the context of atmospheric pollution, the ozone layer, global climate change, and acid rain. Activities were designed to accommodate diverse student backgrounds. Activities included attendance at seminars and on-campus events, discussion of current news events, creation of a children’s book, and development of chemical demonstrations. In addition, challenges encountered during the implementation of these activities are discussed.

show abstract

“…This can take the form of an adapted approach to the course itself, as in the Chemistry in Context textbook developed by the American Chemical Society, or the incorporation of activities based on popular press news articles and students’ daily lives, through online projects or oral presentations . Others have designed entire courses focused on the fundamental chemistry involved in one application, such as energy . We were interested in incorporating a shorter, interactive module to highlight a socioscientific issue within a larger survey of chemistry topics.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Others have designed entire courses focused on the fundamental chemistry involved in one application, such as energy. 11 We were interested in incorporating a shorter, interactive module to highlight a socioscientific issue within a larger survey of chemistry topics. Wabash College offers a survey course in chemistry for nonmajors that has specific course goals, including teaching students to apply scientific thought toward problem-solving by gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence and encouraging students to think about how they consume and communicate scientific information.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a Deliberation of Energy Policy as an Educational Tool in a Nonmajors Chemistry Course

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A central goal of nonmajors chemistry courses is to instill within students the sense that chemistry does not occur in a vacuum but rather permeates everyday life. To encourage students to consider chemistry within the broader context of society and public policy, a week-long module in a survey course for nonmajors was designed to connect scientific principles and energy policy. This module featured a deliberative discussion to facilitate students' evaluation and consideration of multiple viewpoints, rigorously examining different perspectives, trade-offs, benefits, and values represented in multiple alternatives. Our results demonstrate that this approach was highly impactful, resulting in several significant positive outcomes, including a deeper awareness of the connection between chemistry and other disciplines, an increased level of understanding and confidence in their knowledge, and a greater sense of urgency regarding energy policy.

show abstract

Using Chemistry as a Medium for Energy Education: Suggestions for Content and Pedagogy in a Nonmajors Course

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Surveying Italian and International Baccalaureate Teachers to Compare Their Opinions on System Concept and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Chemistry Education

Surveying Italian and International Baccalaureate Teachers to Compare Their Opinions on System Concept and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Chemistry Education

Promoting Student Interest in Chemical Concepts by Implementing Creative Learning Activities in a Chemistry in Society Course for Nonscience Majors

Using a Deliberation of Energy Policy as an Educational Tool in a Nonmajors Chemistry Course

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About