Predicting

The unit on predicting covers three functional areas, equations, gas laws, and calculations. Only the gas law unit has a writing assignment. The student has two weeks to compose a response to a prompt. This response is the evaluation of what they know or understand from the module. Using the information of the writing seminar requires the use of graphic organizers, rough drafts, and final drafts to successfully complete the assignment. I find that when the student is required to articulate the concepts in a paper, they are going to provide me an accurate appraisal of what they have truly learned. Most of the content for the paper comes from the classroom experience.

Predicting is the quantifiable portion of the course. Here is where the concepts are used to predict and outcome and estimate the amount of the desired product. The emphasis is on laboratory observations and experiences that are obtained in the classroom. I try to discourage the use of the internet not because of the lack of information, but because there is so much that can lead to misunderstandings or confusion. This unit as all of the following builds on prior knowledge and adds to that knowledge. The concept that the entire course is a tool to solve problems from start to finish is new to the students and they do struggle with this idea of being responsible for all material covered at any time.

The equations begin with what constitutes a chemical reaction and how to identify it. This is a review from the previous unit, but never hurts to go over material that is needed for future concepts. The equation module explores how to predict a likely outcome of a combination of chemicals, predict the state of the product and evaluate whether the reaction is likely to occur.

The next module is gas laws. This is the area of investigation that formed the basis of modern chemistry. This where the first occurrence of the mole as a tool of measurement occurs, we introduce it here so the mathematical usages is small and the student becomes used to seeing it and discussing what it means. We use relative measure of a common product, much like using the relative measure of the early chemists.

The last module is the calculations. This is probably the most difficult unit to understand as it appears to be simple on the surface; it is just multiplying and dividing. The problem arises when we create a relationship between two different chemical and say they are equivalent, when intuitively the student know this is not true. Once this concept is understood, the calculation process becomes almost routine.

The last event of this unit is an oral exam. There are a set of question available to the student from the first day of school that look at all aspects of this unit. The students are given a week to review and prepare and then in random order the study teams are called into an interview process. This process resembles the interview process for a job, in that questions and situations are presented and the student is allowed to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. In this second oral exam the student retakes a question with a reduction of one grade category.

module equations

module gas laws

module calculations

surface mining

case study devloping ideas

case study information

case study questions

lab reports

lab presentations