The Trajectory of Chemistry Teaching and Learning
The December 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: teaching during COVID-19; examining models used by students; chemical structure; game-based learning; interdisciplinary courses; teaching chemistry using plants; laboratory instruction with real-world context; fluorescence; exploring spectroscopy; thermodynamics; chemical education research; from the archives: photography.
Cover: Photography Using Household Chemicals
In A Photographic Process Using Easily Available Reagents, Sergey Slyusarev describes a photographic technique that employs inexpensive and easy-to-find reagents: ascorbic acid, copper sulfate, and sodium hydrogen carbonate. As with other photographic processes, this is a compelling demonstration of the effects light can have on chemical reactions. One advantage of this photographic development process is its accessibility in circumstances when specialized chemicals are unavailable or undesirable. Even younger students can exercise their creativity in making photographic prints with this process. The cover shows an image and the negative it was printed from using the photoreduction of copper.
See "From the Archives: Photography" below for more articles on photography in past issues.
Editorial and Commentaries
In the editorial Will 2020 Be an Inflection Point in the Trajectory of Chemistry Teaching and Learning?, Tom Holme muses on how the year 2020 may exact lasting change for teaching and learning activities in chemistry and beyond. (open access without a subscription)
In the two commentaries in the issue, Jack Silver implores readers to Let Us Teach Proper Thin Layer Chromatography Technique! (open access without a subscription) and Amanda M. Shufflebarger and Kevin A. Scott advocate that Chemistry Departments Should Facilitate Graduate-Level Second-Language Writing Instruction (open access without a subscription).
Teaching during COVID-19
Efficacy of a Asynchronous Online Preparatory Chemistry Course: An Observational Study ~ Grace Henbest, Kiana Mortezaei, Teresa Alvelais, Courtney Murphy, and Jack F. Eichler
Assessment à la Mode: Implementing an Adaptable Large-Scale Multivariant Online Deferred-Grade Exam for Virtual Learning ~ Bhavani Balasubramanian, Chris DeSantis, and Miriam Gulotta
Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analogy to Explain Collision Cross-Sections in Chemical Kinetics ~ Ricardo Fernández-Terán, Estefanía Sucre-Rosales, Lorenzo Echevarría, and Florencio E. Hernández
Incorporating an Online Interactive Video Platform to Optimize Active Learning and Improve Student Accountability through Educational Videos ~ Surya Pulukuri and Binyomin Abrams (open access without a subscription)
For additional ideas related to teaching during COVID, see the September 2020 issue, a special issue devoted to “Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19”.
Examining Models Used by Students
Supporting Engagement in Metamodeling Ideas in General Chemistry: Development and Validation of Activities Designed Using Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning Criteria ~ Jon-Marc G. Rodriguez, Katherine Lazenby, Leah J. Scharlott, Kevin H. Hunter, and Nicole M. Becker
Chemical Structure
Introducing Molecular Structural Analysis Using a Guided Systematic Approach Combined with an Interactive Multiplatform Web Application ~ Armélinda Agnello, Stéphane Vanberg, Céline Tonus, Bernard Boigelot, Laurent Leduc, Christian Damblon, and Jean-François Focant
Lessons in Stereochemistry: Resolution, Synthesis, and Characterization of Chiral Compounds ~ Kevin A. Scott, Alexander Marciniak, William G. Benson, and Robin Polt
Structural Chemistry 2.0: Combining Augmented Reality and 3D Online Models ~ Jonas R. Schmid, Moritz J. Ernst, and Günther Thiele (open access without a subscription)
Game-Based Learning
Fun with Flags and Chemistry ~ Christophe Coudret and Nicolas Dietrich
1H NMR Spectrum: A Team-Based Tabletop Game for Molecular Structure Elucidation ~ Zachary Thammavongsy, Michael A. Morris, and Renée D. Link
Race to the Reactor and Other Chemistry Games: Game-Based and Experiential Learning Experiences in Materials and Polymer Chemistry ~ Marissa L. Clapson, Brian C. T. Gilbert, and Amanda Musgrove
The Shrewd Guess: Can a Software System Assist Students in Hypothesis-Driven Learning for Organic Chemistry? ~ Julia E. Winter, Joseph Engalan, Sarah E. Wegwerth, Gianna J. Manchester, Michael T. Wentzel, Michael J. Evans, James E. Kabrhel, and Lawrence J. Yee (open access without a subscription)
Interdisciplinary Courses
Teaching an Introductory Organic Chemistry Class for High School Students ~ Daniel R. Zuidema, John A. Stimart, and Zixin Jian
Chemistry of Cannabis: An Interdisciplinary Course ~ Meghan R. Johnston
Connecting Chemistry to Social Justice in a Seminar Course for Chemistry Majors ~ Aren E. Gerdon
How Safe Is Your Playground? Analyzing Soil in Scottish Schools through a University Outreach Project ~ Debra Willison, Christine M. Davidson, and Fraser J. Scott
Characterization and Electrochemical Analysis of Microelectrodes and the Interface with a Fabricated 3D-Printed Microfluidic Chip in an Upper-Division Analytical Course ~ Chelsea DeLeon, Tara Tabibi, and Asmira Alagic
Teaching Chemistry Using Plants
Demonstrating Real-World Applications of Chemistry in Customs Laboratories Facilitating Global Trade and Regulation by Guiding Students through Organoleptic Assessment of Olive Oil Using Their Senses of Taste and Smell ~ Adriano Francescangeli
Enhancing Interdisciplinary and Systems Thinking with an Integrative Plant Chemistry Module Applied in Diverse Undergraduate Course Settings ~ Lucas Busta and Sabrina E. Russo
K-5 Thin-Layer Chromatography: Three-Dimensional Analysis of Pigments from Plant Materials Using an Interlocking Building-Block Photography Box ~ Melissa Saldaña, Stephanie A. Valenzuela, Sarah R. Moor, Pedro Metola, and Eric V. Anslyn
Separation of Anthocyaninic and Nonanthocyaninic Flavonoids by Liquid–Liquid Extraction Based on Their Acid–Base Properties: A Green Chemistry Approach ~ Cátia I. Sampaio, Luís F. Sousa, and Alice M. Dias
How Should Apples Be Prepared for a Fruit Salad? A Guided Inquiry Physical Chemistry Experiment ~ Renée S. Cole, Marc Muniz, Erica Harvey, Robert Sweeney, and Sally Hunnicutt
Laboratory Instruction with Real-World Context
Introductory Chemistry Laboratory: Quantum Mechanics and Color ~ Dana Rubenstein, William Patterson, Iris Peng, Francisco Schunk, Adriana Mendoza-Garcia, Mengjie Lyu, and Li-Qiong Wang
Hydrolysis of Triglycerides in Cream Using Porcine Pancreatic Lipase ~ Forest Robertson and Linda Passaro
Development of an Electrochemical Sensor Using Pencil Graphite Electrode for Monitoring UV-Induced DNA Damage ~ Soha Ahmadi, Hamid Fini, Talia Ho, Paniz Jalali Nadoushan, Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz, and Kagan Kerman
Approaching Diesel Fuel Quality in Chemistry Lab Classes: Undergraduate Student’s Achievements on Determination of Biodiesel Content in Diesel Oil Applying Solvatochromic Effect ~ Rafael Cavalcante dos Santos, Juliane Natalizi Cabral Cavalcanti, Elisa Carneiro Werneck do Carmo, Fernando Costa de Souza, Wesley Garcia Soares, Cristiane Gimenes de Souza, Débora França de Andrade, and Luiz Antonio d’Avila
A Course of Hands-On Nanopore Experiments for Undergraduates: Single-Molecule Detection with Portable Electrochemical Instruments ~ Zheng-Li Hu, Yi-Lun Ying, Ming-Zhu Huo, Xuan-Feng Kong, Xiao-Dong Yu, Jian-Rong Zhang, and Yi-Tao Long
Fluorescence
Using Recycled Bacterial Culture Media to Demonstrate Anti-Counterfeiting Measures and Ninhydrin Tests with “Turn Off Fluorescence” to High School Students ~ Anadi Gupta and Vishal Mishra
Photochemical Synthesis of Solvatochromic Fluorophore from the C–C Coupling Reaction for Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment ~ Rong Miao, Jing Li, Zhenshan Luo, Haiqi Yu, Taihong Liu, and Yu Fang
Exploring Spectroscopy
Physical Principles of Circular Dichroism ~ Steven S. Andrews and James Tretton
Introduction to Femtochemistry: Excited-State Proton Transfer from Pyranine to Water Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption ~ Pascale Changenet, Thomas Gustavsson, and Isabelle Lampre
Accessible and Interactive Learning of Spectroscopic Parameterization through Computer-Aided Training ~ Justin Marlowe and George Tsilomelekis (open access without a subscription)
Thermodynamics
Constructing an Electronic Calorimeter That Students Can Use to Make Thermochemical and Analytical Determinations during Laboratory Experiments ~ Josu Lopez-Gazpio and Inigo Lopez-Gazpio
Derivation of the Theoretical Minimum Energy of Separation of Desalination Processes ~ Li Wang, Camille Violet, Ryan M. DuChanois, and Menachem Elimelech (open access without a subscription)
Examination and Improvement of Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment: Thermodynamics of a Surfactant Micellization ~ Qian Zhang, Jie Liu, Xiao Nai, Hongcui Bao, Dezhi Sun, and Min Liu
Introducing Structure–Energy Concepts of RNA at the Undergraduate Level: Nearest Neighbor Thermodynamics and NMR Spectroscopy of a GAGA Tetraloop ~ Gaius Takor, Christopher E. Morgan, Liang-Yuan Chiu, Nashea Kendrick, Emily Clark, Rohan Jaiswal, and Blanton S. Tolbert
Chemical Education Research
Exploring Students’ Explanations of Energy Transfer and Transformation ~ Michael Macrie-Shuck and Vicente Talanquer
Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Redox Concept Inventory: A Rasch Approach ~ Ying Jin, Christian A. Rodriguez, Lisa Shah, and Gregory T. Rushton
Exploring Undergraduate Students’ Abilities to Collect and Interpret Formative Assessment Data ~ Young Ae Kim, Emily Monroe, Hayley Nielsen, Jonathan Cox, Katelyn M. Southard, Lisa Elfring, Paul Blowers, and Vicente Talanquer
Analyzing Chemistry Teachers’ Formative Assessment Practices Using Formative Assessment Portfolio Chapters ~ Timothy N. Abell and Hannah Sevian
Chemistry Education and the Post-constructivist Perspective of Bruno Latour ~ Donald. J. Wink
From the Archives: Photography
Several articles in this issue involve photographic processes:
• A Photographic Process Using Easily Available Reagents
Photography has been featured in past issues since the earliest issues of JCE, including:
Integrating Aesthetics Education into Chemistry Education: Students Perceive, Appreciate, Explore, and Create the Beauty of Chemistry in Scientific Photography Activity ~ Yizhou Ling, Jiamin Xiang, Kai Chen, Junyao Zhang, and Hongyan Ren
Photochemistry and Pinhole Photography: An Interdisciplinary Experiment ~ Angeliki A. Rigos and Kevin Salemme
Understanding Photography as Applied Chemistry: Using Talbot’s Calotype Process To Introduce Chemistry to Design Students ~ Esther S. Rösch and Silke Helmerdig
The Chemistry of Photography: Still a Terrific Laboratory Course for Nonscience Majors ~ Simeen Sattar
Writing with Sunlight: Recreating a Historic Experiment ~ Simeen Sattar and Robert J. Olsen
The Chemistry of Photographic Color Dye Formation ~ Bruce E. Kahn
Cyanotype was featured in the July 2019 issue highlights as: Printing the Archives: Cyanotype
JCE: A Steady Source of Ideas
Even in these times of disruption, there are always ideas for teaching and learning chemistry in the 97 volumes of the Journal of Chemical Education —including the December 2020 issue described above. Articles that are edited and published online ahead of print (ASAP—As Soon As Publishable) are also available. (For more information on how to access the articles cited above, see Deanna Cullen’s post on Accessing Cited Articles.)
Do you have something to share? Write it up for the Journal! In particular, consider submitting to the special issue of JCE on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect in Chemistry Education Research and Practice (deadline is April 12, 2021).
Erica Jacobsen’s Commentary continues to provide excellent advice about becoming an author. In addition, numerous author resources are available on JCE’s ACS website, including the Author Guidelines and Document Templates. The ACS Publishing Center also has resources for preparing and reviewing manuscripts for ACS journals.