Month: October 2010

Boris, the Chem 11 teacher, is looking for a way to create a stand-alone, self-directed tool for students learning the Periodic Table. It should allow students to review the material, then test their knowledge. It would give instant feedback, including formative feedback that helps them move towards the right answers.

My solution for Boris would be to include an interactive Module on his Moodle site, that allows students to explore interactive review options that will keep them on track.

At this site:
http://www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/simDownload/index4.html
There is a simulation on
PREDICTING THE PRODUCTS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Periodic Trends in electronegativity

At this site, there is an interactive periodic table that allows you to explore properties of each of the elements, including images of what the element or materials the element is used in, would look like, and also Chem 11 relevant information like isotopes, electron and orbitals:
http://www.ptable.com/

This site:
http://www.touchspin.com/chem/DisplayTable.html
Links the student to a wiki page for each element.
Although in Chem 11, generally, we do not require students to memorize pages of facts on each element (Wiki pages are easily accessible – no need to memorize this stuff).

This site
http://www.chemicool.com/
Is interesting, because when a student clicks on an element, the link includes videos of reactions with that element – far more “kewl” for Chem 11 students than reading encyclopedic facts about elements.

There are sites that offer downloadable review programs:
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/mac/Periodic-Table-Review-149351.shtml
and
http://download.cnet.com/Periodic-Table/3000-2054_4-75221758.html

And online quiz programs to review the Periodic table:
http://www.quia.com/quiz/890298.html
This above example is on par with the Chem 11 learning outcomes.

These are quite applicable as well:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/testsquizzes/l/blperiodictablequiz.htm
http://chemistry.about.com/od/testsquizzes/l/bltrendsquiz.htm

In fact, this last site mentioned,
http://chemistry.about.com/od/generalchemistry/General_Introductory_Chemistry.htm
has many applicable links.

I have chosen all of these interactive sites as Boris’ solution, since these online quizzes give immediate feedback to the students and corrects them immediately, if they have chosen the wrong answer. It is of utmost importance to note that the teacher would only want to provide those hyperlinks that review the pertinent material and assess the content that the students require for this Chemistry 11 level. Of course, the teacher, in his spare time, could create his own quiz on Moodle, incorporating all the features of matching, multiple choice, embedded images, short answer, short essay, that relate directly to his curriculum…but in a pinch, he can find many interactive links that will engage his students and perhaps increase the likelihood that they will take the time to review the material and improve in their transfer of periodic table knowledge. ☺

For all those Chem teachers out there that wished that I just posted my URL finds so you can use them, here they are succinctly listed in this attachment:
Boris the Chem 11 teacher

Also, be sure to search Chemistry Periodic Table (or any other topic, for that matter) at http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/ to find great resources shared by collaborative teachers, just like you!

Preparations for creating my Moodle site are underway.

My LMS Proposal has been submitted and this time has been spent really considering the Rationale for this Course shell that I will be building.

What is my Rationale?
-why the communication space I will set up is supportive of your instructional goals.
The goal in this Chemistry 12 Moodle space that I am constructing, is to create another method of support for my students’ studies, and give them a different avenue for successful transfer of their learning outcomes. Students will have access to the online environment at any time, allowing them to revisit topics, complete work and collaborate with peers according to their schedule.
This platform will be designed to cater to a variety of learning styles. This learning environment, used in conjunction with the face to face, in classroom learning activities, might better meet students’ needs when facing a difficult topic. The intent is also to spark interest in a topic that may otherwise not entice the student. A proposed benefit might also be that students would be more likely to spend quality time completing homework and grasping concepts after class if such an environment is available to them.
This educational platform will allow students to collaborate with one another while learning, allow them to explore the material in any order and as many times as they wish. With the modeling provided by the instructor on this Moodle site, students will be encouraged to articulate their understanding of each topic and reflect upon their responses as well as reply to online postings from fellow classmates. In this way, we hope to motivate learners and provide them the opportunity to experience the learning materials in a more interactive way. Also to provide them with opportunities to learn information beyond the prescribed learning outcomes covered in the course outline.
Part of the delivery system will allow for students to assess their own learning as they collaborate on the website and respond to each other’s queries and comments.
“We must constantly remind ourselves that the ultimate purpose of evaluation is to have students become self evaluating. If students graduate from our schools still dependent upon others to tell them when they are adequate, good, or excellent, then we’ve missed the whole point of what education is about.” (Costa and Kallick, 1992, p. 280)

I truly believe that a blended, or mixed-mode delivery of content will benefit my students and prepare them more fully for lifelong learning.

I know that I will tweak, change and add activities and features as this Moodle site evolves, and I look forward to making this a valuable site for enhanced learning.