2014 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education

This participatory workshop is for educators who teach complex concepts that may be difficult to impart to students using standard lecture techniques. Explore demonstrations and engaging activities that get students out of their seats and thinking about complex concepts - such as factors that affect enzyme activity or how to determine molecular shape and polarity - while using fun props and aids. Participants will take part in an activity, discuss a Top 10 list of tips and strategies for developing effective activities, examine survey tools to assess the effectiveness of an activity, and explore potential pitfalls and strategies to avoid or overcome them. Participants will also share their experiences with in-class activities and collaborate on a new activity to enhance student learning of a challenging chemistry concept. Participants will leave with ready-to-use examples, plans for self-developed activities, and an assessment template for evaluating the effectiveness of their own activities.