High Tech and Low Tech Solutions to Providing Hands On Experiences of Chemistry

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Neal Holmes
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1 High Tech and Low Tech Solutions to Providing Hands On Experiences of Chemistry Don Brattan, Newman Burdett, Peter Curry, Anthony Jadoloh, Jean Johnson, Maimunah Abu Bakar, Jared Ogunde, Tony Rest, Jodye Selco, Geoffrey Sleightholme, Ray Wallace and Keith Wilkinson

Jadoloh, Jean Johnson, Maimunah Abu Bakar, Jared Ogunde, Tony

2 Classroom in a Rural School in Kenya

3 Doing Titrations in an Urban School in Uganda

4 Problems Cost and Availability of Chemicals Cost and Availability of Equipment Cost and Availability of Resources, e.g. benches, fume cupboards, running water, gas supply, electricity supply, distilled water

5 Solutions Pragmatic Solutions, e.g. Sharing Resources Importing Resources, e.g. Lab Aid, Chemistry Aid (Chemistry Video Consortium, Royal Society of Chemistry), RSC Pan Africa Chemistry Network High Tech Solutions Low Tech Solutions

Royal Society of Chemistry), RSC Pan Africa Chemistry

6 High Tech Solutions Use Multimedia Resources, e.g. VHS tapes, CD ROMs, DVDs Use Broadband Networks, e.g. Internet Use Mobile Phones to download materials from local server systems, e.g. Cyber School Project for Rural Schools in Malaysia Downloading from Satellite Systems

7 Low Tech Solutions Micro scale Chemistry Chemistry Using Plastic Bags Chemistry Using Plastic Wallets, Petri Dishes, Well Trays and Chemistry Kits, Use Road Shows and Buses

8 Micro scale Chemistry Advantages: reduces amounts of chemicals, reduces problems with disposal of chemicals, has ability to carry out reactions on Open Benches which would normally require fume cupboards Disadvantages: difficulties of sourcing glassware RESULT: SOLUTION NOT APPLICABLE

on Open Benches which would normally require fume cupboards

9 Chemistry Using Plastic Bags Advantages: Plastic bags can replace a laboratory; uses cheap local chemicals from local environment, markets, supermarkets; bags are cheap, readily available and recyclable; uses easy to dispose of common chemicals; enables students to make connections between formal lessons and Chemistry all around them Disadvantages: Some training needed for teachers and to get acceptance by Ministries of Education RESULT: CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL

common chemicals; enables students to make connections between formal lessons and Chemistry all around them

10 Wildern School, Southampton students UK UK UK Students Experimenting with Plastic Bags as Part of a Science Club Event

11 Chemistry Using Plastic Wallets, Petri Dishes, Well Trays and Chemistry Kits Advantages: no glassware; very small quantities of reagents; cheap; safe for gases; safe and easy disposal of reagents; use simple plastic equipment widely available in developing and developed countries; recyclable plastic equipment; can do kinetic studies as well as qualitative reactions; can be used safely by large classes, e.g. 60 students Disadvantages: mainly useful for Inorganic reactions and Physical Chemistry studies, i.e. not readily adaptable to Organic Chemistry reactions RESULT: CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL

plastic equipment; can do kinetic studies as well as qualitative reactions; can be used safely by large

12 Ugandan Students Using Plastic Wallets, Droppers and Pre Prepared Reagents

13 Kenyan Students Using Global Warming and Kenyan Students using Acid Rain and Global Warming Kits developed by Marks and Spencer

14 Using Road Shows and Chemistry Buses Teachers need to see and try out new resources to know how they can use them in lessons Administrators need to see how resources will fit into the curriculum Parents need to be convinced that sciences, in particular Chemistry, can afford long term careers for their children RESULT: Effective Dissemination of Good Practice, Lots of Enthusiasm and Considerable Potential

need to be convinced that sciences, in particular Chemistry, can afford long term careers for their

15 Bus for Chemistry Road Shows in Kenya

16 Acknowledgements Educational Techniques Group Trust Chemistry Aid (Chemistry Video Consortium [ and the Royal Society of Chemistry [ Scientific Advisory and Information Network of Kenya [ Pan Africa Chemistry Network [ Marks and Spencer Plc

rsc.org] Scientific Advisory and Information Network of Kenya

Wallingford Public Schools - HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OUTLINE

Wallingford Public Schools - HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OUTLINE Course Title: Applied Chemistry Course Number: G 2614 Department: Science Grade(s): 11-12 Level(s): General Credit: 1 Course Description This is