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Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions.It is a physical science for studies of various atoms, molecules, crystals and other aggregates of matter whether in isolation or combination, which incorporates the concepts of energy and entropy in relation to the spontaneity of chemical processes. Modern chemistry evolved out of alchemy following the chemical revolution.

Chemistry is the scientific study of interaction of chemical substances that are constituted of atoms or the subatomic particles: protons, electrons and neutrons. Atoms combine to produce molecules or crystals. Chemistry is often called "the central science" because it connects the other natural sciences such as astronomy, physics, material science, biology, and geology.

The genesis of chemistry can be traced to certain practices, known as alchemy, which had been practiced for several millennia in various parts of the world, particularly the Middle East.

The structure of objects we commonly use and the properties of the matter we commonly interact with, are a consequence of the properties of chemical substances and their interactions. For example, steel is harder than iron because its atoms are bound together in a more rigid crystalline lattice; wood burns or undergoes rapid oxidation because it can react spontaneously with oxygen in a chemical reaction above a certain temperature; sugar and salt dissolve in water because their molecular/ionic properties are such that dissolution is preferred under the ambient conditions.

A chemical reaction is a transformation of some substances into one or more other substances. The number of atoms on the left and the right in the equation for a chemical transformation is most often equal. The nature of chemical reactions a substance may undergo and the energy changes that may accompany it are constrained by certain basic rules, known as chemical laws. It can be symbolically depicted through a

Energy and entropy considerations are invariably important in almost all chemical studies. Chemical substances are classified in terms of their structure, phase as well as their chemical compositions. They can be analysed using the tools of chemical analysis, e.g. spectroscopy and chromatography.

Chemistry is an integral part of the science curriculum both at the high school as well as the early college level. At these levels, it is often called "general chemistry" which is an introduction to a wide variety of fundamental concepts that enable the student to acquire tools and skills useful at the advanced levels, whereby chemistry is invariably studied in any of its various sub-disciplines. Scientists, engaged in chemical research are known as chemists. Most chemists specialize in one or more sub-disciplines.

ABOUT US

Our group members are as follows:

Safizan Bt Zainal Khairi

Nurrul 'Ainni Bt Md Teni

Najah Nadiah Bt. Alias

Norzzati Effah Shaari

If you want to know more about us, kindly click on our name. Thank you.......

IDEAS

CONSTRUCTIVISM

According to my understanding and from what I have read about constructivism approach, constructivist teaching and learning is student-centered. Students have actively constructed their own knowledge from the experiences, mental structures and beliefs. In this processes, teacher becomes as a guide and model for students, help students to develop the metacognitive skills such as reflective thinking and problem solving. So that, students becomes independent learners where is they are motivated to generate, discover, build and expand their knowledge.

The right and appropriates learning environment are very important to facilitates constructivist teaching and learning. The number of students should not too crowd in one class and the arrangement of table must suitable and convenience for students to interact with teacher and among them. This is because the students learn through interaction with others. The teacher should create and maintain a collaborative problem-solving environment. Good problems are required to stimulate the exploration and reflection. Teachers can encourage student’s inquiry by asking thoughtful and open ended questions. The presence of variety of teaching and learning materials including interactive materials also can helps. Another important thing is provide adequate time for students to construct relationship with people and environment around them.

ICT tools can act as a helper and medium for students to think, to learn and to communicate. Through the telecommunication networks, students can develop their social, communication and collaboration skill by joining the online discussion, forum and conferences. Some of the computer applications have been adapted or developed to facilitate critical learning. This happens when the ICT expertise have designed and developed the ‘Mindtools’ application such as visualization tools (e.g. MacSpartan for visualizing chemical compounds.), dynamic modeling tools, information interpretation tools (e.g. World Wide Web), knowledge constructions tools and conversation and collaboration tools.

Posted by Safizan

Do You Agree With These Tips?

The following are suggestions beginning teachers say they wish they had when they began teaching. Consider them as you think about your role as a secondary teacher.

1. Be patient – especially with yourself as you are learning about your students and about teaching.

2. Expect that your student will be curious and interested in your personal life.

3. Dress professionally – Respect yourself, your students and the job you’re doing by paying attention to your appearance.

4. Listen to yours students- Don’t assume your student will learn the way you learned.

5. Project a positive attitude

6. Work harder with those students to whom you’re particularly drawn. Spend more time trying to understand them. These students are your biggest challenges and most likely need your help the most.

7. Keep an open mind about everything related to this problem.

Posted by Najah

What causes the most stress for teachers?

I guess meetings with parents. It is particularly getting worst when you have to face a parent who comes up to you with a know-it-all attitude and more or less assumes the right to judge you as a teacher, often lacking the necessary information about you. I also hate when parents trust what their kids tell them about what is going on in class rather than us teachers. Sure we make mistakes but it is really disappointing when faced with a mother who had no idea what was going in class because she was a working mother for most of the day and she thought that her children were doing fine til she saw their grades. Last but not least, students who put zero effort in class work and individual work and are pretty much absent in most of your classes. I really feel bad for them when I have to meet with their parents. I actually feel guilty towards these parents and I really should not be.

Posted by Najah

Why teachers should write poetry for children?

The evolution and popularity of 'rap' music forced many people to re-examine their attitudes towards poetry. For some reason, the word 'poet' possessed an esoteric, almost mystical quality. People mistakenly assumed that poets were removed from mainstream society by vision, craft, and life experiences. Regardless of who they are or what they do for a living, poets are people who choose to reflect on and communicate their sense of themselves and the human experiences through poetry. Obviously, they need to observe that experience close at hand.
In the case of children's poetry, the link between poet and audience is even more immediate and interdependent. A poet writing for children attempts to share an understanding of and perspective on experience as gained through the sensibilities of a child. No one can write for children with that kind of sensibility without direct exposure to children. Poets draw on their own chilhood memories, certainly, but those memories have to be discovered , re-examined, clarified and distilled through observation of real children.
Many teachers have never tried to write poetry because they think that they arem't qualified. Poetry is for everyone and anyone can write poetry. If teachers don't write for children, then who should? Who knows more about their mode of language, the way they perceive the world, and the things that are important to them? Rather than special knowledge of vocabulary, a person writing for children needs an understanding of children and the will to communicate with them. With honesty, patience, some craft and a little time, any teacher can write poetry that will touch, charm and entertain children.
The most compelling reason for teachers to write poetry for their students is also the most selfish. Writing poetry for children is fun. Teachers get to discover and enjoy the world through a child's wondering sight. Thet get to think and act like a child all over again. Besides, teachers will never have a more generous, responsive and appreciative audience than the children in their own classroom. The first time they craft a poem, present it to their children, and witness as the word thrill and move them, they will be hooked for life. Why should teachers write poetry for children? Quite simply, there's too much joy in the experience not to.

REFLECTION

BENEFIT OF ICT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

Technology is a powerful tool that has great potential in enhancing the learning of science. Through the use of technology especially video, computer and internet, the teaching and learning of science can be made more interesting and effective. Through this course, I had learned about computer simulation and animation, data logger and also smart board.

Computer simulation and animation can be presented through courseware or web page. Teacher can download the video or simulations from internet freely. What they need is to install any software that can play the simulation. And the software also are available for free, where teacher can download from internet.

Application tools such as word processors, graphic presentation software and electronic spreadsheet are valuable tools for the analysis and presentation of data. Besides that, during last week ICT class, we had introduced and explained about Smart Board by Apple Company. This tool is very useful for teacher in teaching. It is flexible, easy to use and handle, can attract student thus it can make two way of communication during the lesson. Smart board can be assumed as combination of traditional chalk and talk, power point presentation and IT technologies.

The use of other tools such as data logger and computer interfacing in experiments also enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning of science. Data logger is a devise that records data. It has many type of sensors such as temperature, sound, light and humidity. One of the primary benefit of using data logger is the ability to automatically collect data on 24 hours time. It allows for comprehensive and accurate picture of the environmental conditions being monitored such as temperature and humidity.

Posted by Najah

Benefits of Simulation-based Education

Simulations are thought to be effective in education especially in science subjects such as Chemistry, Biology and Physics because they elicit higher levels of arousal, motivation, task engagement, and quality of problem-solving in students than that offered by traditional classroom methods. It needs to emphasize more on practical knowledge and efficient tools that will enhance the students’ thinking, problem solving and interpersonal skills so that they can face the challenges ahead and emerge as competent leaders in the industry after they leave the universities. Simulation has emerged as an important approach to meet this need.

Numerous potential benefits of simulations such as:
· Ensured reproducible curriculum for all students
· Instant performance feedback
· Improved psychomotor skills
· Develop an enjoyable learning experience
· Give students a chance to test their intuition
· Enhance learning (with the assumption that learning is done better by doing than by just listening, reading, or writing)
· Build students’ confidence and teamwork
· They can then use these opportunities to modify their decisions and actions and to observe the impact of such changes.

Improving and creating simulation software will give variety of teaching and learning methods. Teacher can make their lesson more interesting and this will attract students to be more focused in their classroom. Students are able to try and correct themselves at the same time and learn fast through simulation. I hope more educators and expertise will be able to create simulation which suitable for students in every field or subjects as it can give big impact to the learning process.

Posted by Nurrul ‘Ainni

ICT Class..... What do you think?

First of all, thumbs-up for this course. This is because it has made me realized the important of technology especially in teaching. Before this, I'm not really care about ICT so I did not know not only data logger but smart board as well. They are really rare to me. This is because I took pure chemistry during my degree. So, the only thing I knew, go to the lab and did my experiments. But now, the situation is quite different when I'm taking this wonderful course. It successfully help me to develop along with technology as well as give the ideas to create an innovation towards my teaching style. Now, those weird things are not longer rare for me anymore... Thanks for this course and Dr Saadiah as well for the precious knowledge I got through this class.

Posted by Effah Shaari

EVENT

vIdEo

Is chemistry video gives benefits for viewers?

I believe that from this video it will create a lot of benefits by helping the viewers especially social science students to get vivid picture of chemistry. In fact, I got this experience before. It occurred when my sister asked me the usage of medicine she hold and I said that I did not know. However she tought I should know that because that was my field. So, how can you imagine that happened? She got wrong interpretation on my study contents. Hence, I had to explain to her but she still did not get the overall ideas of chemistry. So, I let her made up her own conclusion on it. Hopefully through this video it will correct not only her but other students mainly from social science the true picture on chemistry.

In fact, this video also included a few apparatus and chemical solution which are rare for some viewers so that it will boost their curiousity in chemistry as well as encourage them to learn more about chemistry. Perhaps, one day there a lot of chemistry teachers and chemists can be produced within this country.

Besides, it also showed the proper way to used apparatus during experiments. So. they will get the ideas, knowledge and information how to carry out the good experiments especially for chemistry students who are willing to take chemistry as their major course in university later on.

Posted by Effah Shaari

Let's learn chemistry through this video..... Enjoy yourself

NOTES

Lesson Plan
Chapter 1
Power Point Chapter 1: Introduction to Chemistry
Chapter 4
Power Point Chapter 4: Periodic Table
Chapter 7
Power Point Chapter 7: Acids and Base
Chapter 9
Lab Test for Sulphuric Acid
Power for Alkane topic

posted by Najah

Effah Shaari's lesson plan
Chapter 3
Chapter 5

Chemistry simulation..... Enjoy watching..
Chapter 5
sodium chloride
water molecule

Posted by Effah Shaari

Chapter 6
Chapter 8

Posted by 'Ainni