MAKING PRACTICAL WORK

MORE EFFECTIVE
Heidi Dobbs
RSC Education Coordinator: Midlands
 Numeracy Challenge

• Use the sample vials to define the mathematical

symbols

• Is this a practical?
 Making practical work more
effective
• What, if anything is your school doing at the
moment?

• Current research/ideas:
– Gatsby’s “Good Practical Science” benchmarks
• ASE Benchmark 1 support. Launching 29th April
• STEM Learning: resources to support each benchmark
• CLEAPSS: Guidance documents for practical provision
– EEF’s: Improving secondary science guidance
– Cognitive load in practical work
• Articles to support teaching in EiC magazine (RSC)
 Integrated instructions:
reducing cognitive load
• Integrated instructions can help to reduce
cognitive load
– Effectively practical method written as a flow chart

• Now you try!

Reduce cognitive load to build knowledge article (EiC)

 https://eic.rsc.org/

Education in Chemistry (EiC)

Articles and ideas
to support your
teaching practice,
including “how to
teach….” articles

News, views and

perspectives on
teaching

Cutting edge
research and in-
depth chemistry
features
 Practicals for dry, conceptual
theoretical learning objectives
• Gatsby research says there should be a practical
aspect in 50% of lessons BUT, these don’t have to
be long!

• Crafty Bonding: have a go!

Make a simple molecule out of pipe cleaners and beads
– Originator: Kristy Turner. University of Manchester/Bolton
School
– Article in EiC: “Reasons to craft your own molecular
models”

• Numeracy challenge: Does that fit in?

 Who to ask: Education
Coordinators
• Education Coordinators can:
– Point you in the right direction
– Put you in touch with the right people
– Keep you in touch with what is happening in
your area
– Support you in any way they can (resources,
CPD, events etc.)

• RSC Education Coordinators: Midlands

– dobbsh@rsc.org
– S.Kermode@warwick.ac.uk
– Twitter: @RSC_MidsEd
Thank you!
www.rsc.org
 Rates of Reaction
• Rates with uv beads
– uv active beads, sunlight (or uv torch), cup of hot, cup of cold water (stopwatch)

• Nuffield Practical Chemistry: Rates and rhubarb: http://www.rsc.org/learn-

chemistry/resource/res00000745/rates-and-rhubarb

• Assessment for Learning (35): Rates of reaction graphs:

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/resources/aflchem/

• Assessment for Learning (34): What sank the Kursk?:

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/resources/aflchem/resources/34/inde
x.htm

• Starters for Ten: Chapter 7 – Kinetics: http://www.rsc.org/learn-

chemistry/resource/res00000954/starters-for-ten-chapters-1-
11#!cmpid=CMP00001411
– Editable worksheet with answers
 Equilibria
• Card flipping equilibria
– Double sided cards, e.g. snap cards (about 12 per pair/three)

• Nuffield Practical Chemistry: The equilibrium between two coloured cobalt species:
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000001/the-equilibrium-between-two-
coloured-cobalt-species
– Can be done as a class practical on a dropping tile (microscale)
– Or, can be done in buckets! https://eic.rsc.org/exhibition-chemistry/easier-
equilibrium/3007629.article

• Assessment for Learning (57): Equilibrium reactions:

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/resources/aflchem/

• Advanced Starters for Ten: Chapter 2 – Equilibria: http://www.rsc.org/learn-

chemistry/resource/res00001358/advanced-starters-for-ten-chapters-1-
14#!cmpid=CMP00002943
– Editable worksheet with answers

• Microscale Chemistry: Measuring an equilibrium constant on a microscale:

http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00000537/measuring-an-equilibrium-
constant-on-a-microscale
 Bonding
• Crafty covalent bonding (stolen from Dr Kristy Turner)
– Pipe cleaners, pony beads, scissors
– J. Chem. Educ., 2016, 93 (6), pp1073-1080: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00981

• Chemical misconceptions – prevention, diagnosis and cure: http://www.rsc.org/learn-

chemistry/resource/res00001140/chemical-bonding
– Volume I: Reference detailing common misconceptions and why students may have them
– Volume 2: Classroom resources to tackle issues. For example, ionic bonding:
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001095/ionic-bonding

• Assessment for Learning (32): What is bonding like in Iron?:

http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/resources/aflchem/

• Starters for Ten: Chapter 3 – Bonding: http://www.rsc.org/learn-

chemistry/resource/res00000954/starters-for-ten-chapters-1-11#!cmpid=CMP00001408
– Editable worksheet with answers
 Spectroscopy

• Toilet roll spectrascope:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YStZk2zANvk
– Toilet roll, CD, foil/card (to make slit), something to look at

• Spectraschool: http://www.rsc.org/learn-
chemistry/collections/spectroscopy?e=1
– Interactive spectra: http://spectraschool.rsc.org/
• Independent learning/revision
– Animations and information: http://www.rsc.org/learn-
chemistry/collections/spectroscopy/introduction#
 http://www.rsc.org/events/ukireland

Perhaps an event?
 Learn Chemistry search term “Online CPD”

Teacher support: Online CPD

• Custom made online
modules
– Quantitative
Chemistry
– Analytical Chemistry

• Discounts for staff at

RSC Partner
Schools
– 50% as member
– 25% other staff
– Free to trainees!

https://www.rsc.org/cpd/teachers/online
 Learn Chemistry Partnership
Connecting you and your school with the world’s
leading chemistry community – for FREE.
• Stay up to date:
– Be the first to know about new resources and benefits through a monthly e-newsletter
– Hear from your local Education Coordinators through regular regional emails
– Education in Chemistry magazine bimonthly
• Discounts on products and services from the RSC
– Giant periodic table wallcharts
– Discount on online CPD courses for all staff in your school
• Exclusive access to our Online Assessment Tool quizzes
• Certificate of registration and information pack
• Complementary personal RSC membership for the main LCP contact
– NB: RSC members receive 35% off everything in the online shop
– Discounted Chartered College membership

http://rsc.li/lc-partnership