Anyone interested in learning more about Modeling Instruction in Chemistry can find out more about it by attending any of the several presentations or workshops at ChemEd 2015. Here is a list of sessions and a summary of each.
What Does a Chemistry Course That is Centered on Models and Modeling Look Like?
45 min presentation
Model development and use is central to the scientific process, and provides students with a framework for recognizing and working with key principles of how nature works. New NGSS standards require students to be able to make and use models of nature. This presentation will describe a pedagogical and conceptual rationale for a model-based storyline for high school chemistry utilizing the Modeling Instruction pedagogy and how it fits into PCB and BCP sequences.
An Excellent Pairing: Modeling Instruction and the PCB Sequence. The Story of How it Worked for Us.
45 min presentation
Ridley School District has simultaneously changed to a PCB sequence and adopted the use of modeling instruction. Science teachers have participated in workshops together to provide a more integrated science experience for students. These changes have facilitated a more coherent treatment of energy as students experience their science courses. The pairing has also allowed teachers and students to leverage carefully sequenced learning activities within and between science courses.
How Modeling Engages Students in the Seven Science Practices Outlined by the College Board
45 min presentation
This session provides an overview of Modeling Instruction and how it aligns with the seven science practices of AP Chemistry. M.I. offers a robust, research-based set of materials designed to engage students in the act of “doing” science. Students develop, evaluate, and modify models based on data and observations they collect from simple experiments. Students are expected to represent their ideas in a variety of ways as they learn to question each other and defend their ideas.
Are there particles smaller than an atom?
45 min presentation
In this presentation, I will share how the Modeling Curriculum has students “step into the shoes of the scientists” that made these discoveries and share their findings with their colleagues (classmates). This does not come until Unit 10 in the Modeling Curriculum, so I will also share about why and how this is placed here and not earlier in the course. Handouts on my requirements for students’ research and presentation, as well as a grading rubric will also be shared.
Energy Bar Charts - a Conceptual Tool to Describe Energy Storage and Transfer
45 min presentation
Energy is considered an indispensable tool for describing and understanding the world around us. Yet students graduate from high school unable to use energy to describe or explain everyday chemical phenomena. In this presentation I will show how Modeling Instruction provides students with a powerful conceptual tool (Energy Bar Charts) to describe energy storage within a system and transfers between system and surroundings during physical and chemical change.
A Coherent Approach to Energy in High School Chemistry
105 min workshop
In the approach developed in Modeling Instruction in high school chemistry, students are not confronted with a bewildering array of different “forms of energy.” Instead they learn that there is only one kind of energy but many ways it can be stored and transferred. Students learn tools to qualitatively represent energy interactions between system and surroundings. In this workshop participants will learn about this conceptual introduction to the study of energy.
Beyond the Octet Rule: Developing an Explanatory Model of Bonding and Periodicity
105 min workshop
Electron organization in the atom is central to understanding bonding and periodic trends in properties. Modeling Instruction offers a unique analogous model of electrons in the atom from an analysis of ionization energies that allows students to explain bonding and periodic behavior. This model is more robust than the usual energy level rings, yet is conceptually more concrete than a quantum orbital model. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop with Excel (or other compatible program).
Developing a Particle Model to Account for the Behavior of Gases
105 min workshop
To study the behavior of gases, Modeling Instruction encourages students to develop a particle model to account for the observed regularities in the behavior of gases, promotes the use of proportional reasoning to predict the effects of a change in one variable on another, and helps students make the distinction between a theory and a law. In this workshop teachers will play the role of students attempting to explain observed P-V, P-n and P-T regularities using a particle model of a gas.
Before, Change, After: A Modeling Approach to Stoichiometry
105 min workshop
Stoichiometry is an essential part of describing and understanding the relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. However, students often find this challenging, and seek refuge in algorithmic calculations driven by unit cancellation. This workshop offers a conceptual approach to stoichiometry that utilizes multiple representations of the reaction at three key stages to keep problem solving and answers in the context of the balanced chemical equation.
Stability and Change: Developing a Model of Equilibrium Processes
105 min workshop
Stability and change are cross-cutting concepts to all disciplines in science. In chemistry these concepts can be seen in the study of the nature of equilibrium for both physical and chemical changes. Yet students often misunderstand equilibrium. In this workshop a model of the equilibrium process is developed using a simple game that can be applied to various systems, making the equilibrium state, rates of competing processes, and standard rate graphs more meaningful to students.
Evidence and Arguments for Using Inquiry
45 min presentation
This veteran teacher just used the Modeling chemistry curriculum for the first time. I will share the highs and lows of the experience along with some activity ideas and tips for helping students use evidence to explain chemistry concepts and make connections between topics.
PDF of these presentations with times and location information.
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Comments 2
another modeling presentation
Larry,
I will also be giving a modeling presentation titled "Teaching Chemistry with Modeling Instruction" Saturday morning. Below is the abstract.
This presentation will focus on sharing my experiences using Modeling Instruction in my high school chemistry classes over the past 3 years. As Modeling Instruction has increased in popularity over the past decade in physics, using this pedagogical approach in the chemistry class has started to become popular as well. The presentation will include information on what Modeling Instruction is, what it looks like, its benefits, and my general experiences.
Join the crowd
Ben, I'm glad that you are sharing your experiences. Unfortunately, I will be helping out in a workshop of my own at the same time. - Your talk gives conference attendees another option. I hope it goes well.