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Teaching Resources

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TEACHING RESOURCES INFORMATION

TITLE OF TEACHING RESOURCE
Principles of Alchemy by
Merlin
IMAGE
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Dr Jamie Love
DATE OF PRODUCTION
1996-2010
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Downloadable software
LEVEL OF CHEMISTRY KNOWLEDGE
Basic
PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH
home schooling
SUBJECT AREA
Fundamental Chemistry
TARGET GROUP LEVEL
Lower Secondary School
LANGUAGE/S OF TEACHING RESOURCES
English
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
"Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry)" is a self-paced, self-learning program specifically designed to teach Chemistry on computer
The course is divided into four sections, each with a computer graded exam.
Each chapter (called an "Ancient Element") contains lessons presented in dialogue style. Topics covered are:
AIR (Atoms) - Atoms and atomic structure. Mass and Daltons. Isotopes, radioactivity and half-life. Nuclear chemistry and nuclear synthesis. Electron shells and orbitals (mostly s and p orbitals, the d and f orbitals are covered in EARTH). The Bohr atom. Quantum mechanics.
WATER (Molecules) - Molecular formulas and molecular mass. Lewis structures. Strong bonds - ionic, covalent and metal. Weak "bonds" - polar(ized), hydrogen and van Der Waals. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic forces. The states of matter. Solutions, condensation, evaporation and distillation. Molecular shapes - electrostatics, molecular orbitals, hybrid orbitals and VSEPR theory. Allotopes. Crystals. Amorphic and devitrified structures. Gels.
EARTH (Elements) - The Periodic Table - its trends, uses and concepts (including atomic size, ionization energies, electron affinity and electronegativity). A "tour" highlights the traits, similarities and differences among the common elements. More shells and orbitals.
FIRE (Chemical Reactions) - Breaking and making bonds. Exothermic and endothermic. Combination, decomposition and replacement reactions. Standard conditions. Energy diagrams and reaction paths. Catalysts. Valency. Oxidation and reduction.
Balancing equations. Rates and equilibriums. Entropy and enthalpy. Thermodynamics, Hess's Law, Le Chatelier's principle and Gibbs energy. Dissociation and ionization in water. Enthalpy of formation.
"Special reactions" like combustion, electrolysis, photosynthesis, and respiration.

"Alchemy" is for everyone and the lessons are specifically designed with the needs of home schoolers in mind.

Teaching procedure is very interesting. Like reading a script, the student "listens in" on (actually, reads) the conversation between Merlin and his student, Arthur. The back and forth nature of dialogue means concepts can be explained in a natural manner. Merlin explains something and Arthur asks questions about it - often the questions that immediately come to mind. Arthur makes common mistakes and Merlin corrects him. Problem solving is easily demonstrated and common errors in thinking are identified. A dialogue unfolds in which Chemistry is learned.
Lessons conclude with Arthur's Notes - a compilation of the salient features discussed in the dialogue. Then the student is challenged with Merlin's questions that hyperlink to detailed answers. Some of them encourage the student to recall important concepts discussed in the lessons and notes. They take over where the dialogue ended, introducing more advanced ideas and drawing the student further into the subject.
Each Ancient Element concludes with some simple, optional home experiments to try.
After completing an Element, the student takes a computerized exam.
(Alchemy text has a reading level of around 8th grade.)
After completing all four sections the student takes the final exam and, once successfully completed, receives a Diploma. In total there are 5 exams with 100 questions.
COMMENTS
This is a general foundation course, teaching the basics of Chemistry. It covers the material that 13 year old could learn and enjoy it - that's because it is specifically designed to teach as much Chemistry as possible without resorting to complex equations.
No advanced chemistry and mathematic skills are expected, so it's suitable for everyone.
Most questions and answers are designed to challenge the student to learn more.
Lessons are presented in dialogue style. The purpose of this style is to break away from the dry textbooks that seem to have become a standard for Science education.
The teaching approach is unusual and motivates in maximum degree the student to learn chemistry.
The knowledge control is well organized in a manner to stimulate the student. In total there are 5 exams with 100 multiple choice questions during the course. These questions provide immediate feedback, are grade by the computer and, once successfully completed, give the student a Certificate of Completion that can be printed out. After successfully completing the Final Exam the student is given a Diploma and the title of "Apprentice Alchemist".
Training materials are developed in two independent easy loadable parts. Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry) textbook is a computerized book that can be easily read using any web browser. Principles of Alchemy Workbook includes Arthur's Notes and Merlin's Questions and is used with the hypertextbook. This book helps the student to become more immersed in the course and to encourage careful studies. It could be used by the student to review information presented in the course and to write answers to the questions.

The main weak point of the product is that it is not free. The possibility to obtain the product is limited - one should pay to get a copy of Principles of Alchemy.
NAME OF THE REVIEWING ORGANISATION
Technical University Gabrovo

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National Reports on successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry The national reports on chemistry successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry are now available on the related section of the project portal. The reports presents examples of successful experiences in the partner countries and the results of testing of ICT resources with science teachers.

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