Creating a Collaborative Learning Space in a Chemistry Curriculum

Ilse Rootman-le Grange, Liezel Retief, Ed Jacobs, Hanelie Adendorff, Moira Bladergroen, Ydalene Coetsee

Chemistry 176 Test 4 September 2014

“Chemistry, specifically, is a challenging science because it requires good understanding of several concepts and the ability to transition between micro, macro, and symbolic representations. Studies, however, indicate that students develop unconnected and compartmentalized knowledge, which makes learning chemistry hard for many students … Ozcan Gulacar and Charles R. Bowman, 2014

The PIC Project

Final assignment: Write two paragraphs for a personal journal in which you reflect on your own learning during the process of compiling the PIC portfolio.

Chemistry 176 outcomes

Integration of concepts What I have learnt about chemistry is that it is important to make sure that I understand the section at hand before moving on to the next section. This is because

everything you have learnt in the previous topics will be applied.

Tydens die PIC projek het ek ook gesien hoe al die

verskillende hoofstukke

wat ons in die afgelope paar maande in die klas bespreek het

, saamgevat word

.

Chemistry 176 outcomes

Active learning Ek is iemand wat beter begrip kry as ek dit self doen en weet waar die konsepte vandaan kom en inmekaar pas. Dis presies wat die projek doen.

Dit laat jou self die verskillende konsepte leer

deur die toepassing daarvan.

I learnt to work on many problems in chemistry that I could not solve before because

I had no choice but to work on them on my own.

Integration of modules

I have to evaluate and integrate the information …from different sources …which requires my

skills

as I cannot take someone else’s work and take credit for it.

I thought a greater deal of the As of the introduction to

Google docs

in future.

, it has shown us a more academic method of interaction which I believe will be a good reference

type fast

because now at least I can type more than 20 words per minute.

Aan die begin van die PIC projek was dit regtig vir my ’n uitdaging om nuttige en betroubare bronne op te spoor. Dit het my geforseer om van die biblioteek … gebruik te maak.

Research shows that students learn better when they reflect on their learning. Write two paragraphs for a personal journal in which you reflect on your own learning during the process of compiling the PIC portfolio. Divide this task in personal and scientific reflection (the first paragraph about what you have learnt in terms of

skills

for

group-work

, etc. and the next paragraph about what you have learnt about learning?

Chemistry

). According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, students need to move from knowledge to comprehension to application to analysis to synthesis to evaluation in order to learn better.

Where on this pyramid do you see your engagement with Chemistry? Has the PIC improved your learning style? Have you moved from surface to deep

Our Response

Before

Hydrogen iodide decomposes in an equilibrium reaction to form iodine and hydrogen. At equilibrium the following concentrations were measured: [HI] = 0.49 M, [I 2 ] = 0.060 M, [H 2 ] = 0.080 M.

a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction that takes place.

b) c) Calculate K c for the reaction.

How much hydrogen iodide must be added to the equilibrium mixture to increase the iodine concentration from 0.060 M to 0.100 M?

After

Hydrogen iodide decomposes in an equilibrium reaction to form iodine and hydrogen. At equilibrium the following concentrations were measured: [HI] = 0.49 M, [I 2 ] = 0.60 M, [H 2 ] = 0.080 M.

How much hydrogen iodide must be added to the equilibrium mixture to increase the iodine concentration from 0.060 M to 0.100 M?

Ek het gesukkel met die vraag ... Ek kon die HS vergelyking oplos, maar het gesukkel om te onthou wat om volgende te doen.

Feedback

Elke toets toets jou kennis en begrip.

Nuwe tipe vrae, sukkel om te verstaan en toe te pas. ...want ek het nie na sulke probleme gekyk nie.

… project has proven to be beneficial to both my knowledge in Chemistry, as well as personal development.

Summary

…developed an interest of curiosity, wanting to learn more about how things are … something I never had before. Being involved in this project has been the greatest experience I’ve ever had.

the assignment … rather underwhelming and the complete opposite to what I had anticipated.

…soms gevoel dit was tyd mors en nie mooi deurgedink nie.