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.

by Chad Husting
Wed, 04/21/2021 - 08:23

Chad Husting shares a microscale Reactions Lab and outlines his goals and plans for labs in his classroom as he prepares for next school year.

Comments: 4
Recent activity: 9 months 1 week ago
by Josh Kenney
Tue, 04/20/2021 - 08:31

Context-based chemistry aims to make chemistry learning more meaningful for students. With an emphasis on inquiry-based activities, context-based chemistry improves student interest and motivation in chemistry by linking content to real-world situations. Though the idea has been around for over 20 years, researchers are still learning the best strategies for teaching context-based chemistry. Here, we will explore some of the benefits and challenges unearthed up until this point.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Clarissa Sorens...
Mon, 04/19/2021 - 19:02

Evaluations are part of everyday life. This multi-part blog has aimed to expand the collective understanding on what is evaluation and what are some ways that it is done. 

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Chad Husting
Sun, 04/11/2021 - 17:16

It has been a challenging year. The challenge gave rise to a unique way to provide exams in a multitude of platforms. Check it out and do not be afraid to share some ideas of your own!

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Michael Morgan
Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:56

A Soviet era stamp featuring a quadruple bond.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Tom Kuntzleman
Wed, 04/07/2021 - 11:00

This post describes a simple way to generate blue, green, orange, and yellow copper complexes, and to use these complexes to introduce students to the effect of temperature on chemical equilibria. The protcol avoids the use of caustic agents, allowing the experiments to be conducted by students as a laboratory-based investigation.

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 1 year 8 months ago
by Jason Bradshaw
Tue, 04/06/2021 - 09:45

The diversification of STEM and STEM education is not going to happen overnight, but we all move it forward with what we do today. It is incumbent to us as educators to acknowledge and celebrate the different identities in our classrooms.

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Francisco Villa
Sat, 04/03/2021 - 10:45

This post addresses concerns about the quality of the future of chemistry education in an online environment. 

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Dean Campbell
Fri, 04/02/2021 - 23:23

The many colors of springtime can be illustrated with photochromic pigments in commercial products. These products include UV beads, and more recently, photochromic glue. The glue can be used as a photochromic paint for paper or even eggs. The resulting colorful, decorative objects can be used to illustrate chemical discussions of aspects of photochemistry.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Melissa Hemling
Thu, 03/18/2021 - 18:54

Many of us have molecular kits we only use once a year.  Dust them off and find new lessons to use them in!

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago