Scaffolding a Conceptual Understanding of the Gas Phase in General Chemistry Enriched with Technology : Scaffolding a Conceptual Understanding of the Gas Phase in General Chemistry Enriched with Technology Scott A. Sinex and Barbara A. Gage
Department of Physical Sciences and Engineering
Prince George’s Community College Presented at the 230th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, DC on 28 August - 1 September 2005.
Your objectives in gases… : Your objectives in gases… Behavior and properties of gases
Introduce the ideal gas law and combined gas law
Finding molar mass and gas density
Kinetic-molecular theory
Real gas behavior
...but we don’t want to lecture!
What & Why? : What & Why? Discovery laboratory experience
Build and extend qualitative into quantitative mathematical relationships
Extend knowledge from ideal gases into real gases after covering liquids and intermolecular forces
All steps enriched by using technology
Student- or learner-centered activities
How? or Technology involved... : How? or Technology involved... Webpage with links and pdf handouts
Multi-layered Interactive Excel
Animations as
Flash from Odyssey
NetLogo Java applet
Movie from SnagIt (screen-capture software)
The complete package of materials:
http://academic.pgcc.edu/psc/chm101/ideal_gas
The Behavior of Gases : Laboratory activity (<2.5 hours)
Macroscopic behavior
Mostly qualitative relationships
P-V experimental
data collected The Behavior of Gases PV = k Our complete General Chemistry I lab manual.
Slide6 : Discovery-based laboratory activity Post-laboratory student- centered computer-based activity with discussion The scaffold...
The Ideal Gas Law : Interactive Excel spreadsheet
Graphical analysis and interpretation
Quantitative symbolic relationships (P-V-T-n)
Influence of error
html document with animations
pdf printable version as handout
Microscopic aspects incorporated using Odyssey® converted to Flash files and NetLogo Java applet
Dropdown menu with selected numerical answers The Ideal Gas Law Link to web activity
Outcomes for students... : Outcomes for students... Many experimental observations and predictions
Relating macroscopic and microscopic behavior via animations
Symbolic relationships derived
Many “what if” scenarios via numerical experimentation
Effects of “constant variables” and error
Student responses… : Student responses… Survey students on the use of the technology
Pre- and post-assessment of concept understanding
For further information… : For further information… The complete activity online - click here
Constructing an interactive Excel spreadsheet – click here
Scott Sinex
ssinex@pgcc.edu
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex
Barbara Gage
bgage@pgcc.edu
http://academic.pgcc.edu/~bgage