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 Deanna Cullen
Mon, 02/18/2013 - 12:45

Moles, mole ratios and stoichiometry have been frustrating topics for many of my chemistry students. The MOLE and Avogadro’s number get tangled up in other Chemistry jargon and students have stared at me like I am speaking another language. I have been around long enough to know this is a problem that many of us have faced. I have tried many ideas that have helped and I want to share a few. 

Comments: 1
Recent activity: 10 months 5 days ago
by Doug Ragan
Fri, 02/08/2013 - 22:24

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Doug Ragan and I have been a high school chemistry teacher for fourteen years.  Three years ago, I was approached by my high school principal and the conversation went like this,

Principal:  "You are one lucky guy."

Me:  "Really, why?"

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 4 years 5 months ago
by Tom Kuntzleman
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 11:13

You may have read Sarah Kong's recent blog post on inquiry on this site. I thought I would give a description of one way I incorporate inquiry learning into one of the chemistry courses I teach. 

Comments: 3
Recent activity: 10 months 5 days ago
by Sarah Kong
Tue, 01/22/2013 - 17:17

Who is Sarah Kong and why is she starting a blog for Chem Ed X about Inquiry?

Comments: 4
Recent activity: 10 months 6 days ago
by Deanna Cullen
Wed, 01/16/2013 - 14:09

Whenever possible, I try to begin a topic with something my students are familar with. For the introduction of Percent Composition in my general chemistry course, I brought in bags of Oreo cookies. Seeing the bags upon entering class was a great attention getter. If you are looking for ways to add more inquiry to your chemistry course, this a an example of how you can experiment with giving up a little control. Try it and see how it goes.

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 10 months 6 days ago
by Deanna Cullen
Sun, 10/07/2012 - 20:53

Having some experience in using and creating inquiry activities, I am getting questions from teachers looking for ways to add inquiry to their curriculum. My first tip is to take baby steps. I will continue to blog about ideas to help outline some of those steps. First, I am sharing some inquiry ideas from the last unit I taught in my high school general chemistry course along with providing some ideas for using the resources provided with a subscription to ChemEdX.

Comments: 3
Recent activity: 2 years 11 months ago
by greg rushton
Wed, 08/08/2012 - 22:28

In a recent editorial at JCE, my colleague Brett Criswell and I wrote about connecting the nanotechnology theme of this year's

Comments: 4
Recent activity: 4 years 5 months ago
by Deanna Cullen
Tue, 07/17/2012 - 18:33

I love the first week of school! I perform some of my favorite demonstrations and we jump right into activities that help to jumpstart the year and excite students about where we are headed. I am in the process of uploading many of those activities. I will list them here and you can check them out.

Comments: 1
Recent activity: 10 months 5 days ago
by Deanna Cullen
Wed, 06/20/2012 - 12:38

BCCE 2012 is just around the corner at Penn State University. Opening ceremonies begin on July 29th and the conference runs through August 2nd.

Recent activity: 10 months 6 days ago
by Deanna Cullen
Tue, 06/05/2012 - 08:48

A periodic table project...

Recent activity: 10 months 6 days ago