Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Slides, photos
. Today one can either obtain photos on transparencies or print a
colored picture on a transparency by oneself. Good slides shown in a darkened
room though remain a special experience, especially if aesthetic aspects play a role,
for example, showing colored crystals. Slides are a good way to illustrate chemical
procedures or technologies during the lesson. Since there is usually no sound
available for the slides, teachers can customize their comments to the learners'
needs. They also decide the speed in which the slides change.
In the age of digital cameras, it is also possible to show digital pictures via
computer and beamer. Students are able to upload pictures to their computers and
edit them to their needs. New methodical challenges arise as it is now possible to
work on pictures during the lesson.
Sound movie, video
. In the near future, old fashioned sound movies will only be
available on rare occasions; most of them will be transferred to videos. Companies
supplying learning materials offer videos for sale, big chemical companies give
them away for free, and educational movie hire services lend them. There are many
videos available about chemical engineering, everyday life, and environment,
biochemistry, and history of chemistry. These videos do not only offer moving
pictures and comments but also models and animations of moving particles or of the
regrouping and transformation of atoms, ions, and molecules during reactions. The
teacher should watch the video in advance to decide which pictures and animations
are appropriate to the students' prior knowledge and which are not appropriate. In
any case, models and their animations should be critically evaluated.
Television
. The different television channels often show good scientific
documentations or critical reports about ecological damage or environmental protec-
tion. There also exist movies about certain discoveries or events in the history of science.
They can illustrate researchers and important issues in a realistic way for the students.
Such movies should be recorded to show them in class at an appropriate point of time.
Computer
. The PC has turned into a universal medium, which can do pretty much
everything (see Table
4.6
): texts can be scanned and processed, tables and charts can
be created, pictures or photos can be uploaded and edited. If the right programs are
available it is possible to create simulations of real processes, to record, save, and
process measured data during experiments, to develop programs in coordination with
the information and communication technologies teacher. With a connection to the
internet, teachers and students are able to gather information and data about almost
every substance, production processes and environmental questions from all over
the world, get in touch with other institutions, or present projects on a self-created
homepage.
Table 4.6
Different possibilities for computer use in class
Use of the computer
Common programs
on the hard drive
CD-ROM drive
Internet connection,
network programs
Text processing
Simulations
Databases
Tables, charts
Measured value acquisition
Email
Drawings, photos
Programming
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