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CHEM 5304-003 Methods of Teaching Chemistry 3 credit hours

This course covers pedagogical issues relevant to the teaching of chemistry and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills content for chemistry.

It is intended for pre- and in-service high school teachers.

Below you can find the syllabus and lesson materials for the course. The introductions and questions for each lesson are provided, but the answers are not. The course is divided into six sections: The Role of Teachers and Student Motivation, Cognition, Models and Definitions, Laboratory Activities, Technology and Lesson Development. If you are planning to teach a course like this one, contact Dr. Blake at bob.blake@ttu.edu for more information.

Course Syllabus

Student Support

Contact Dr. Blake

TEKS Objectives

Good For?

Puzzles

Section I Role of Teachers and Student Motivation
Unit 1 Teacher Information Form Characteristics of Good Teachers
Unit 2 Diagnostic Exam
Unit 3 Student Goals and Motivation Personal Connections
Unit 4 Student Resilience
Unit 5 Student Presentations of "Interesting Molecules"
Unit 6 Explosives and Molecular Structure Explosives and Oxidation/Reduction Reactions


Section II Cognition
Unit 7 Prior Knowledge and MemoryEncoding and Retrieval of Information
Unit 8 Constructivism Building on Prior Knowledge Deconstructing Misconceptions
Unit 9 The Importance of Context on Memory and Problem-Solving Making Multiple Connections: Temporal and Conceptual
Unit 10 Transfer Making Thinking Explicit Sandwiches à Stoichiometry Quiz Average à Isotopic Composition
Unit 11 Conceptual vs. Algorithmic Problem-Solving Solubility Rules: A Conceptual Basis


Section III Models and Definitions
Unit 12 Models Paper Clips: Physical Representations of Chemical Ideas Guided Learning and the Role of the Teacher
Unit 13 Illustrations of the Invisible Alternate Representations of Information
Unit 14 Language and Definitions Physical vs. Chemical Properties and Changes Technical vs. Operational Definitions
Unit 15 Language and Definitions IIAcids and BasesThink-Pair Share Activities Memorization as a Source of Misunderstanding Incorrect Transfer of Ideas
Unit 16 Depicting the Molecular World Lewis Structures VSEPR Molecular Models


Section IV Laboratory Activities
Unit 17 Guided Inquiry 5E Exercises, PLTL and PoGiL
Unit 18 Lab I: Vinegar and Baking SodaDiscovering the Ideal Ratio of Reactants
Unit 19 Lab II: Change in Penny Weight Over Time
Unit 20 Lab III: Development of the Solubility Rules


Section V Technology
Unit 21 Teaching with Technology Classroom Performance System and Personal Response System
Unit 22 Teaching with Technology II Online Tutorials
Unit 23 Teaching with Technology III CBL


Section VI Lesson Development
Unit 24 Professional Development Exchange of Exemplary Lessons
Unit 25 Evaluation of Student Learning TEKS and TAKS
Unit 26 How People Learn The Development of Memory
Unit 27 Final Project Presentations
Unit 28 Post-Course Diagnostic