March 17, 2017 How I generate science tutorial videos A tutorial on creating videos for science education (or any other instructional theme). Categories Science Education Comments: 0
February 26, 2017 Videos of building molecules, and showing chemical reactions, with candy and toothpicks This post includes a couple of videos to provide students with examples of how to solve a couple of tasks in chemistry. One is “building chloromethane” and the other is “Ester synthesis from acetic acid and ethanol.” Categories Chemistry/Science Education Comments: 0
January 26, 2017 Modeling Instruction and NGSS: Energy as a Crosscutting Concept Notes from a talk on Modeling Instruction and energy as a Crosscutting Concept. Categories Chemistry/Modeling/Physics/Science Education Comments: 0
January 19, 2017 Extra time on quizzes: Why you need individual work Today was a great day. My students had a short quiz, and I wanted to make sure they all had plenty of time to complete it. I thought it would take them about 20 minutes to finish it (most finished in 15-20 minutes), but wanted to allow plenty of time for students who require ‘extra time’ (whether LD diagnosed and... Categories Education and schools/Science Education Comments: 0
December 2, 2016 The periodic spiral of the elements Video of a periodic table rotating to show that the periodic table is not flat; that the Alkali metals are next to the Noble gasses. Categories Chemistry Comments: 0
November 22, 2016 Excel spreadsheet for calculating molar masses and percent composition Over a decade ago I made a Quatro-Pro spreadsheet to make quick calculations from masses on the periodic table. Well, now Excel rules the roost, so I created a similar version using Excel. The fundamental element of the spreadsheet is that the cell with each mass is given a name that is the symbol for the element. So, for example,... Categories Chemistry/Science Education Comments: 3
June 11, 2016 Physics/Chemistry of Espresso Machines: Part 1 Here’s an activity based on observing espresso machines in action. Watch the following video showing the milk steaming container (with a short sidetrack to the espresso pot). What do you notice about the milk as it steams? Can you explain what is happening? Here are some details of how this espresso machine works: The water boiling tank is filled about... Categories Chemistry/Physics Comments: 0
October 24, 2015 Introduction to Modeling Workshops at NSTA in Reno A brief description and photos of my workshops introducing Modeling Instruction at the NSTA Area Conference in Reno, NV on October 23, 2015 Categories Modeling/Physics Comments: 0
September 29, 2015 180: Day 26: How does GPS work? Using PI’s “Everyday Einstein: GPS & Relativity” resources, students are exploring GPS while others are on a Kairos retreat. Categories 180/Geology/Earth Science/Physics Comments: 0
September 28, 2015 180: Day 25: Faculty/staff retreat Learning to take “phone-free” time as an opportunity to practice sketching. Categories 180 Comments: 0
