Norman Reid – författare

Laboratory work is an essential part of undergraduate chemistry courses. The laboratory provides a setting for training not just in practical hand and instrument skills, but also for other skills such as planning, recording, interpreting and working in teams. However, students often learn little from their time in the laboratory and find it hard to make connections with lectures. Over half of third-level chemical students have no intention of becoming practising chemists anyway. Teaching staff may also feel pressured in relation to manpower, materials, time and safety. Carrying out exercises before and after laboratory sessions can maximise the benefit of practical work for higher education students. This books surveys existing materials for pre-laboratory and post-laboratory exercises in the chemical sciences. Twenty examples are given, and guidance is provided for constructing similar exercises.

This book draws on the wealth of worldwide research into science education to establish a set of key principles for teaching secondary science. It considers the aims of science education and the themes and topics that should be included in the curriculum and how these can be effectively taught and assessed in a variety of contexts.Offering a framework for the training and professional development of science teachers, the chapters answer key questions such as: How can I help my students to make sense of difficult areas in my subject? What is meant by understanding, and how can I help my students achieve it? Is it possible to teach scientific thinking and how can I do it? What about learner attitudes when they are sometimes negative? What are the different ways to teach in the sciences that are effective? How can I make learning in the laboratory more efficient and effective? How can I employ assessment as a positive aid to learning?Including reflective questions, tasks and diagrams, this is essential reading for all student and practising secondary science teachers.

This book draws on the wealth of worldwide research into science education to establish a set of key principles for teaching secondary science. It considers the aims of science education and the themes and topics that should be included in the curriculum and how these can be effectively taught and assessed in a variety of contexts.Offering a framework for the training and professional development of science teachers, the chapters answer key questions such as: How can I help my students to make sense of difficult areas in my subject? What is meant by understanding, and how can I help my students achieve it? Is it possible to teach scientific thinking and how can I do it? What about learner attitudes when they are sometimes negative? What are the different ways to teach in the sciences that are effective? How can I make learning in the laboratory more efficient and effective? How can I employ assessment as a positive aid to learning?Including reflective questions, tasks and diagrams, this is essential reading for all student and practising secondary science teachers.

Chemistry is often seen as a difficult subject to understand. This book focusses on the triangle model that Alex H. Johnstone developed in the early 1980s. Originally conceived in the context of making chemistry more accessible to a wider range of learners, the model has been applied in almost every area of education in chemistry at all stages of learning. In looking at why chemistry is difficult, there are two central questions. Firstly, does the problem relate to the nature of chemistry and, secondly, does it relate to the way humans gain understanding? Both were found to be important and the answers to the two question were found to be connected. The triangle model arose from sustained research into human learning. The central finding from research is the critical role of working memory and the model rationalises so much evidence from chemistry education research as well as the repeated experiences of teachers of chemistry at all levels. In order to understand chemistry, it is essential to develop sound mental models of molecular reality. It generates major implications for the way a chemistry curriculum should be constructed and the processes of teaching and learning in chemistry when the goal is focussed on understanding the key ideas. Some of these implications are developed and pointers offered to more successful ways forward.The power of the Johnstone Triangle lies in the way it offers clear directions for all involved in chemistry education. It is hoped that this book will prove helpful to all involved in sharing the exciting story of the way humans have come to understand the molecular world, one of the great examples of great human endeavour.