Blogs

ChemEd X contributors offer their ideas and opinions on a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to chemical education.

Blogs at ChemEd X reflect the opinions of the contributors and are open to comments. Only selected contributors blog at ChemEd X. If you would like to blog regularly at ChemEd X, please use our Contribution form to request an invitation to do so from one of our editors.

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Student conference with Signature Sheet and highlighted feedback on the activity.
Sustainable Grading Practices
// Monday, December 16, 2019 • Melissa Hemling
There are many things I love about teaching. I love helping students grow in their understanding of science and have “aha” moments.  I love helping students find their passion and I love it when my students make me laugh. One thing I don’t love? Grading. It piles up and takes away my time with my family.
TEXT: Flipped Class: Overcoming Challenges
Flipped Classroom: Overcoming Challenges
// Sunday, December 15, 2019 • Josh Kenney
Flipped classrooms are a popular pedagogical technique, delivering lectures before class so that students can engage in active learning and problem-solving activities during class.
The Alternative Circular Periodic Table
NGSS Periodicity Lesson
// Tuesday, December 10, 2019 • Kristen Drury
The periodic table that most of us use in our classrooms was originally developed by Dmitri Mendeleev, but thousands of alternate versions of the table have been devised over time. In this lesson, students are offered a variety of alternative versions of the periodic table.
geometric structure
  Why is Chemistry so Difficult?
// Sunday, December 8, 2019 • Stephanie O'Brien
One reason so many students find chemistry difficult is the abstract nature of the concepts (Yakmaci-Guzel, 2013).
text on green background: A Chemical Laser Show
The Chemical Laser Show
// Saturday, December 7, 2019 • Tom Kuntzleman
I recently developed a demonstration that I’d like to call “The Chemical Laser Show”.
TEXT: 25 reasons why NOT to attend a National Conference or Summer PD
25 Reasons NOT to attend a National Conference or Summer Professional Development
// Wednesday, December 4, 2019 • Ariel Serkin
I offer my top 25 reasons (in no particular order) NOT to attend a National Conference or Summer Professional Development. 25. You come back with so many great ideas, but you can’t use them all in your classroom so you spend all your time thinking of ways to change your curriculum so you can fit them in.
bear silhouette
Metabolic Marvels of Bear Hibernation- Part 2
// Monday, December 2, 2019 • Scott Donnelly
Welcome and thanks for reading. This post is the second that discusses the tantalizing chemistry related to the metabolic marvel of bear hibernation. Click here to read the first post.
TEXT: IB International Baccalaureate
What is the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Program?
// Sunday, December 1, 2019 • Stephanie O'Brien
When I tell people I teach IB Chemistry, I often get the following response, “Is that like AP?” Unfortunately it’s not that simple, so the next few blog posts will explain some key differences.