Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
The blackboard is especially indispensable in lessons with experiments, when
the students are supposed to understand all steps from problem raising to problem
solving. In these cases,
the blackboard can be structured into the following
subitems:
- Headline of the lesson
- Problem
- Planning and performance of the experiment
- Observations and measured data
- Analysis and discussion of mistakes
Especially regarding the first subitem: never write on the blackboard without
a headline.
Graf [
6
] gives further arguments for key functions of the blackboard: “The
writing on the blackboard is usually being developed with the help of students,
which makes sense from an educational psychological perspective. Therefore the
content of the board is being sequenced into manageable steps, which makes it easy
for the students to understand. If there is a fold-out blackboard available in the
chemistry classroom, the outer parts of the blackboard should be used to record the
student's questions and ideas or to write down new or familiar technical terms”.
Graf also lists the pros and cons of the blackboard (see Table
4.4
).
Transparencies
. Just like a blackboard, you can usually find an overhead projector
in every classroom and use transparencies (see Table
4.5
). Colorless endless foil
or sheets can be used like a blackboard, so what applies to the blackboard also applies
to the projected transparency. The following advantages arise:
- The teacher can write with his face toward the students
- The available writing surface is endless
- The transparency can be kept and used again during the next lesson
- Store-bought
transparencies can be used as a build-up set of two to five
transparencies
The only disadvantages compared to the blackboard are: overhead markers dry
out fast so the cap has to be put on every time after writing and the light of the
projector can burn out (a back-up light might be available).
Transparencies can either be self-made or store bought (see Table
4.5
) and used
in addition to the blackboard. If the transparencies are store bought or made before
the lesson, the students need enough time to copy all the essential information.
Figures that are not appropriate can be covered during the projection or discussed
separately. Big companies, especially oil or energy companies, usually offer trans-
parency folders presenting their products and ways of production. They are very
helpful for special chemistry lessons.
Newspaper reports
. Reading and analyzing current newspaper reports makes
lessons on topical questions of everyday life interesting. Often it is also motivating
to reveal journalist's factual errors and to resolve these erroneous issues in a class
discussion. It can be helpful to start a collection of relevant newspaper articles to be
used in class. In particular, with topics concerning the environment and climate
