68011 - Elements of Chemistry and Chemistry Teaching

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will: (a) understand the importance of the Chemistry, not only because it is a central science which enables to understand all the other scientific disciplines, but also because Chemistry is “our everyday life", by showing that it is all around us and in us; (b) understand, by using the comparison between language and Chemistry, the concepts of atom and molecule and know how to use them correctly; (c) be able to apply the scientific method to the observation of reality to explain the "why" and "how" of everyday life; (d) know how to build educational courses addressing topics of Chemistry particularly suitable for developing an interdisciplinary approach, such as water, light, energy; (e) know how to prepare simple experiments to be carried out in the classroom or in the laboratory to accompany the theoretical explanations.

Course contents

The aim of the course is (i) to clarify the concepts of atom and molecule by using a comparison between language and chemistry; (ii) to show that Chemistry gives an answer to many "why" and "how" of the everyday life; (iii) to demonstrate that, despite the common opinion, chemistry is a fascinating discipline strongly related to our everyday life; (iv) to explain that Chemistry (and also science in general) must not be confused with all the harmful effects which derive by a bad use made by men.

Furthermore, because Chemistry is an experimental science, another aim of the course is to show how it is easy to invent or find simple experiments to clarify the addressed theoretical aspects. A teacher, particularly of scientific disciplines, must always remember that it is more useful and exciting "to find out by ourselves" the facts rather than to listen their bare descriptions.

After having examined some of the fundamental concepts which are unavoidable to understand the discipline, during the course specific topics related to everyday life (e.g. light and colours, food, cosmetics, energy, water, etc) will be dealt with. It will also be shown how these topics can be explained in the primary school by use of simple experiments. Because the time available for the course is few, every year it is possible to discuss only some topics which will be chosen accordingly to the interest of the attending students.

The course will be held in the second semester from February 12 to March 7, 2018.

Science labs: an interdisciplinary lab and disciplinary labs (only for students who started their graduate course in/after A. Y. 2016-2017)

Starting from A. Y. 2018-2019, science labs have been revisited and improved, resulting not only in the reorganization of the disciplinary laboratories but also in the realization of interdisciplinary laboratories spanning over Physics, Chemistry, Ecology and Biology.

Given the 360° education required for primary school teachers, these laboratories were planned to be both interdisciplinary, thus involving the four scientific disciplines, and multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary as well: maximum effort will be put into highlighting links with non-scientific knowledge, in order to clarify that there is no dichotomy between sciences and humanities.

The main goals of this rearrangement of the scientific education of teachers are to:

• stimulate curiosity towards scientific themes;

• highlight the ethic and social impact of science and technology;

• communicate the importance of delivering a scientific education starting from the lowest school levels;

• provide conceptual and practical tools mandatory to plan and carry out science-based activities with pupils.

Science labs focused on single disciplines are activated as well, after being improved following aforementioned goals and rationales.

The interdisciplinary laboratory deals with a topic underpinning all the scientific disciplines involved in the master degree with the aim of showing that the same issue can be investigated under different frameworks, each related to a different discipline, and how we can obtain “a big picture” of a given issue by integrating all the different aspects. Disciplinary laboratories, dealing with Physics, Chemistry, Ecology, and Biology, are strictly interconnected with lectures: these classes have the specific purpose of “putting into practice, showing, and touching” some of the course’s topics.

Students will be divided into small work teams and will carry out simple experiments. The lab teacher will conduct also the discussion of results. Suitable experiments have been laid down so that they can be easily reproduced at early childhood and primary schools.

The following disciplinary laboratories have been planned:

“Outcomes of light-matter interactions”

“Touching DNA”

“Light and sight”

On the other hand, the planned interdisciplinary laboratory is:

“Not just HtwoO: The unexpected features of water”

Students must follow two laboratories: the interdisciplinary laboratory and one of the disciplinary laboratories of their choice. All these classes will take place at the Opificio Golinelli (via Paolo Nanni Costa, 14 – Bologna), and their scheduling will be communicated before the beginning of the course. A disciplinary laboratory and an interdisciplinary laboratory will be scheduled in summer.

Each laboratory provides 1 CFU, meaning 8 presence hours and 17 homework hours. In fact, laboratories involve not only the active participation of students but also a “final product”. After the completion of the laboratory experiences, where some disciplinary aspects are investigated and some strategies for stimulating scientific knowledge are proposed, the planning of a didactic activity is requested (which might be useful during school trainings as well).

Students will be graded by lab teachers with -1, 0, or +1 (on a 30 scale). The grade obtained in one of the disciplinary laboratories will add to the final score of the Physics course, while the grade obtained in the interdisciplinary laboratory will add to the final score of the integrated Chemistry and Ecology course. These grades will be available up to the completion of the grading procedure.

Students cannot register for any disciplinary exam (Elements of General Biology, Elements of Chemistry and Ecology, Elements of Physics) unless they have attended both a disciplinary laboratory and an interdisciplinary laboratory.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Il Laboratorio di Scienze (Ed.: Margherita Venturi) Collana "I Laboratori", Tecnodid, Napoli, 2006

Chemistry! Reading and writing the book of nature, Vincenzo Balzani and Margherita Venturi, Royal Society of Chemistry, Gld Edition, London 2014

Energia, Risorse, Ambiente, Vincenzo Balzani and Margherita Venturi, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2014

L’avventura del progetto Irresistible – Insegnanti, studenti ed esperti a confronto su temi di ricerca d’avanguardia e aspetti della Ricerca e Innovazione Responsabile nei curricula scolastici, a cura di Margherita Venturi, Bonomia University Press, Bologna, marzo 2018.

Lectures notes and handbooks will also be handed in by the person in charge of the course.

Teaching methods

The course will be developed through frontal lessons, discussion and design of simple experiments concerning the themes addressed in the course. Active participation to the lessons will allow each student to consolidate theoretical learning and to see its concrete implications in the contexts of kindergarten and primary school.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral and consists in the discussion of a short thesis prepared by the student on one of the topics dealt with during the course. The thesis has to be sent to the teacher (by e-mail) at least one week before the date selected for the exam, and it has to contain a) the reasons why the specific topic has been selected; b) the scientific/chemical concepts at the basis of the selected topic; c) in which way these concepts can be explain to the children, with particular attention to experiments that can be carried out in class; d) the transdisciplinary links; e) the pertinent references.

The students are required to complete the online registration (Almaesami) within the terms in order to be admitted to the exam. In case of technical problems the students have to promptly contact the Segreteria Studenti and the teacher by email (within the terms). The teacher will consider the request and decide about the admission.

Final score based on ../30 (18 is considered the minimum to pass the exam).

The students can take the exam at each exam session.

The non-attending students are requested to contact the teacher.

Teaching tools

Blackboard, personal computer, projector, power-point presentations, educational equipment for laboratory.

Office hours

See the website of Margherita Venturi