Comments on: Changes–Why Consider Them? (April 2009) /websites/expertvoices/archives/2880 Opinions from the PI of ChemEd DL and others; news from the world of chemical education. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:38:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Laura Slocum /websites/expertvoices/archives/2880#comment-1553 Laura Slocum Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:37:18 +0000 /websites/expertvoices/archives/2880#comment-1553 It is really nice to know that I am not the only teacher that does not teach "by the book." Dick, thank you for sharing your ideas, especially about lab reports. Lab reports are another topic that I struggle with how to change every year, but I continue to hear from most of my colleagues at the university-level that it is important for students to know how to analysis data and write good reports. They also feel that the majority of students cannot do this very well, so I have continued to have my students write formal lab reports for each of their labs. However, I have started using classroom activities and I do not have students write reports for these. I look forward to hearing more about the changes others are making in their classroom. Please consider sharing them here -- Thank you again -- Laura Slocum It is really nice to know that I am not the only teacher that does not teach “by the book.” Dick, thank you for sharing your ideas, especially about lab reports. Lab reports are another topic that I struggle with how to change every year, but I continue to hear from most of my colleagues at the university-level that it is important for students to know how to analysis data and write good reports. They also feel that the majority of students cannot do this very well, so I have continued to have my students write formal lab reports for each of their labs. However, I have started using classroom activities and I do not have students write reports for these. I look forward to hearing more about the changes others are making in their classroom. Please consider sharing them here –

Thank you again –

Laura Slocum

]]> By: Dick Moran /websites/expertvoices/archives/2880#comment-1552 Dick Moran Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:59:57 +0000 /websites/expertvoices/archives/2880#comment-1552 I once thought (erroneously) that I could set my chemistry curriculum and move on with the teaching, but it never happened. Every year is a little different, sometimes a lot different. I do not follow the book order and I do move topics around depending on what is going on or when something of interest "outside" occurs. I have shifted away from doing only formal labs and formal lab reports to many smaller, shorter labs that require only a conclusion and a discussion statement I seldom hear anymore " Do we have to write a lab report?" We do write formal reports, but many fewer. The kids like it a lot more, but, they know that they are responsible for the results and that they will appear on exam questions. Inquiry labs are great but very time consuming. I can often do only a partial lab and students can incorporate their ideas ( both good and not so good)if we agree on safety. The down side is that I have to cover state mandated topics for the state exam ( MCAS in Massachusetts) and these scores can affect graduation science requirements. the scores are tabulated and use to rank school systems, at least informally, as well as teacher performance. All this you know, but that is the reality between what you would like to do and what you must do. Best regards, Dick Moran I once thought (erroneously) that I could set my chemistry curriculum and move on with the teaching, but it never happened. Every year is a little different, sometimes a lot different. I do not follow the book order and I do move topics around depending on what is going on or when something of interest “outside” occurs. I have shifted away from doing only formal labs and formal lab reports to many smaller, shorter labs that require only a conclusion and a discussion statement I seldom hear anymore ” Do we have to write a lab report?” We do write formal reports, but many fewer. The kids like it a lot more, but, they know that they are responsible for the results and that they will appear on exam questions. Inquiry labs are great but very time consuming. I can often do only a partial lab and students can incorporate their ideas ( both good and not so good)if we agree on safety. The down side is that I have to cover state mandated topics for the state exam ( MCAS in Massachusetts) and these scores can affect graduation science requirements. the scores are tabulated and use to rank school systems, at least informally, as well as teacher performance. All this you know, but that is the reality between what you would like to do and what you must do.

Best regards, Dick Moran

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