Fall 2006 CONFCHEM	The Division of Chemical Education: Ensuring the Future Through Education An on-line conference, Oct 13-30, 2006
	Abstracts	Papers	Instructions	Discussion Archive

To go to the papers, click on the title of the paper.

P1. Where do I go for help with teaching chemistry? Finding what you need at ACS

Authors: Loretta L. Jones, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Chair, Division of Chemical Education, and Mary Kirchhoff, Acting Director, Education Division of ACS

What is the American Chemical Society (ACS) doing for chemical education and is it doing the right things? These are important questions that we hope you will join us in discussing. Education features prominently in the charter of the American Chemical Society. The objects of incorporation emphasize “the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of chemists through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments” and promote “scientific interests and inquiry, thereby fostering public welfare and education…” The education products and services of the ACS Division of Chemical Education (DivCHED) and Education Division foster “public welfare and education” by focusing on high-quality chemical education for members and non-members alike. Extensive programming by DivCHED at ACS national and regional meetings and at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education facilitates the exchange of the latest information on the teaching and learning of chemistry. Innovative textbooks integrate new content and pedagogy. The activities of the Student Affiliates Program, Project SEED, the Chemistry Olympiad, Kids & Chemistry, and High School Chemistry Clubs engage young people in a myriad of opportunities for professional and personal growth, and the Journal of Chemical Education and the Examinations Institute provide important resources for instructors. This paper will highlight the extensive resources offered by ACS to enhance chemical education and will describe how an instructor can navigate these different options to get needed help or information.

P2 A CHED Programming Home Companion

On the CHED Program Committee, all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the Programs are above average. How did this come to be? What are the joys of programming in Lake Woebegone? The woes? What if Mr.Frumble wants his casserole served precisely at 4 pm on Sunday, or if Mrs. Frumble wants to bring her casserole but isn’t a member of the church? This paper, the Programming Home Companion, will walk you through our committee’s work at like to attend a good potluck.

P3 High School Chemistry: The Profession in the Middle

The purpose of this paper is to generate discussion on issues relating to high school chemistry and its role in the overall education of chemistry and chemical engineers as well as all others who take chemistry at any point in their lives. This includes those for whom high school chemistry is a terminal course.

The paper is called High School Chemistry: The Profession in the Middle because I see high school chemistry as an essential part of a continuum. I will propose some issues to initiate discussion. The list is by no means an exhaustive one because there is no limit to the issues. I want other participants in the conference to respond to the paper, propose other issues and engage in productive dialogue looking at all as contributors to
the improvement the effectiveness of high school chemistry and chemical education as a whole for students and teachers. After all, our job is to contribute to the success of our students.

P4 ACS Exams and Assessment of Students in Chemistry Classes

Abstract: The ACS Exams Institute enjoys a history of more than 70 years of producing nationally normed exams for chemistry classes. Currently, ACS Exams exist for a wide range of classes at the college and high school level. This paper will discuss the process by which exams are developed, released and secured as assessment tools for chemistry educators currently. It will also look to the development of electronic delivery methods for ACS Exams and talk about the importance of security in an electronic educational environment and the challenges that confront ACS Exams in maintaining security on exams so that they remain valid assessment instruments. Presuming an ability to address the security concerns, the opportunities provided by electronic delivery of exams will also be noted in this paper.

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