from Laura Slocum, JCE High School Associate Editor

I am on a “teacher’s high” right now! I can’t thank you—my chemistry colleagues—enough. This past week my AP Chemistry students started a lab that is often referred to as the “Green Crystal Lab”. It involves the synthesis of solid K₃Fe(C₂O₄)₃·3H₂O (green crystals) and can be followed by an analysis for K⁺, Fe³⁺, C₂O₄²⁻ and water of hydration.

Every single student made beautiful, shiny green crystals. Though they do not yet know the formula of the crystals they made, the students are really proud of what they have accomplished. They want to show the crystals to all of their friends. Later this week they will finish their synthesis and start their analyses. My “teacher’s high” is because all of them were so ecstatic about a Friday-afternoon lab and because no one wanted to stop work on the final part of the crystal synthesis.

I have heard about this lab for many years and even made the crystals myself in a summer workshop about eight years ago, but I had never used the lab with my students. This was primarily because only about half of the people who did the lab with me got crystals; I wanted all of my students to make crystals and get enough to do all of their own analyses too. So, when I decided to try the lab, I pulled out my notes and consulted colleagues at other schools who had done this lab. I am the only chemistry teacher in my school, so outside resources are invaluable. These colleagues suggested changes I should make in preparing some of the solutions, hints to share with students to help them prepare better crystals, and which ion-exchange columns and resins I should use for the analyses.

These colleagues did for me what Erica and I have been encouraging you to do for each other—they shared the “best of their own ideas”. By sharing their own experience, they helped me and my students have a better laboratory experience. Join this ongoing conversation—go to the wiki in the online material.

These types of exchanges among chemistry educators can take place in another forum: this Journal. Erica and I are here to help each of you navigate the submission and publication process as you put an article together to share the “best of your own ideas” with fellow teachers. We’re happy to provide feedback on article drafts. Just ask.

NSTA Conference Proposal Deadlines

If you’ve published in JCE, please consider submitting a session proposal to share your ideas at a 2009–2010 NSTA conference. Or, if you have presented at an NSTA conference and have not published the information you shared, consider doing so in this Journal. The 2009 area conferences include Minneapolis, MN (October 29–31), Fort Lauderdale, FL (November 12–14), and Phoenix, AZ (December 3–5). In 2010, NSTA will hold its national conference in Philadelphia, PA (March 18–21). Proposal deadlines are January 15, 2009 for the 2009 area conferences and April 15, 2009 for the national conference. For more information, visit the Web site (accessed Oct 2008).

Erica’s Take on the Issue

from Erica Jacobsen, JCE High School Editor

Technology available for use in the classroom has changed dramatically, even during the short time I’ve been involved with teaching. From a collection of monster videodiscs progressing to DVDs and streaming video online, from a chalkboard to a smartboard, new tools emerge continually. I’ve been interested in recent JCE articles about newer technology, such as personal response devices (clickers) and tablet PCs. The articles describe the effective use of technology in the classroom. For example, Derting and Cox use a single tablet PC with a digital pen in class to present notes and capture student problem solving. They also make practical suggestions, such as locating several podiums throughout the classroom where one can stop to write notes on the PC. Both articles describe technology used in university-level classrooms. What are you doing with new technology in your high school classroom? Tell us!

JCE High School Chemed Learning Information Center (CLIC)