The complexity of teaching chemistry.

• To emphasize the role of energetics and dynamics in chemical processes
• To discuss ways to facilitate the complexity of teaching chemistry

This workshop emphasizes the importance of learning about energetics and dynamics, in order to improve students’ understanding of the relationship between energy and change in chemistry. To illustrate the complexity of science instruction, teachers use a variety of teaching methods like labs, lectures, demonstrations, simulations and a guest speaker to develop concepts related to collision theory, reaction kinetics and electronic energy levels.

"I think that it’s important that the kids see the connection between the sciences . . . . I think it is really important that when we look at these things called physics, biology, and chemistry, many times we are looking at the same thing from different perspectives; its all interrelated. It’s all about understanding our universe and trying to make sense out of it. It’s just that chemists look at it in one way and physicists look at it another way. And in terms of energetics and dynamics, chemistry and physics are so tied together, that you cannot separate them."

Caryn Galatis
Thomas A. Edison High School, Virginia

Proceed to Unit 3.1