Prerequisites: This teaching resource is available in a ready-to-run form on line, but it can also be downloaded separately (
http://e-yliko.gr/Lists/List40/DispForm.aspx?ID=119&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fe-yliko.gr%2Flists%2FList40%2Fsynod_bibl.aspx) in order to run from the hard disk of a personal computer. Some applications (videos) run only by using Internet Explorer. The following programs need to be already installed so that all types of files are executable: Windows Media Player, Flash Player, Shockwave Player and MDLChime
Contents – Task Description: This teaching resource is electronic supplementary material that covers all curriculum content of the 2nd and 3rd grades of the Greek Lower Secondary School. The resource is composed of ca. 3750 files in total divided in separate categories: 1900 hypertext files, 1500 graphics, 135 videos, 50 files of simulated experiments, 90 files of molecular structure graphics. In addition it contains a glossary of 120 chemical terms and biographies of 14 famous scientists. Finally the resource contains powerpoint presentations of (almost all) the teaching material.
The material is organized in seven main sections with several subsections. These sections are the following: Introduction to Chemistry (with 3 subsections), From water to the atom (with 10 subsections), Atmospheric air (with 4 subsections), Soil and subsoil (with 2 subsections), Acids-Bases-Salts (with 4 subsections), Chemical Elements (with 5 subsections) and Carbon Chemistry (with 4 subsections).
A typical subsection is composed of consecutive pages containing short texts with “hot” words and click-on images which connect to additional information which can be short videos, cartoon animations, interactive short quizzes, simulated experiments in a virtual laboratory experiment. While going through the material the student is asked to perform specific tasks (for example first answer a multiple choice quiz after having watched a video) that help him/her assimilate new knowledge. The student is also very often given feedback on how well he has performed or on what more he should take into account in order to answer correctly. Each subsection always finishes with a page summarizing the main issues/concepts examined followed by a multiple choice interactive test. For every possible answer there is a pop-up window with a stimulus for further thinking (if wrong) or a congratulating comment (if right).
Aims: This teaching resource aims at encouraging self-learning by enhancing the motivation to learn chemistry. The material is presented in a user-friendly and easy-to-follow manner and it aims to attract student’s attention to learn more about how nature works. The material aims also at bringing out the connection of chemistry with everyday life experience and in cultivating the ability of logical thinking and of knowledge discovery.
Use in class: The tasks to be performed by the students are described in a clear way. The material is designed mainly for use by the students themselves for self-learning and self-evaluation. The teacher can incorporate some parts of the teaching resource (for example some videos of real experiments) in the class practice via the use of an interactive blackboard, in order to stimulate discussion which will eventually lead to the acquisition of new knowledge.
