1. Models and Modeling in the High School Chemistry Classroom
Larry Dukerich
Dobson HS
Mesa, AZ
CRESMET
Arizona State University
Brenda Royce
University HS
Fresno, CA
We’re here to tell you about the application of the Modeling Method of instruction (first developed for use in high school physics) to the high school chemistry course.

2. The Problem with Traditional Instruction
Presumes two kinds of knowledge:
Facts and ideas - things packaged into words and distributed to students.
Know-how - skills packaged as rules or procedures.
Assumes students will see the underlying structure in the content.
First some background on what is the problem with conventional instruction.
Bullet-1
David Hestenes refers to the first as “factons”, what students record and try to reproduce on tests. The 2nd category he calls “factinos”, stuff that passes unimpeded through students’ heads.

3. “Teaching by Telling” is Ineffective
Students…
Systematically miss the point of what we tell them.
do not have the same “schema” associated with key ideas/words that we have.
do not improve their problem-solving skills by watching the teacher solve problems
Our students don't share our background, so key words, which conjure up complex relationships between diagrams, strategies, mathematical models mean little to them. To us, the phrase inclined plane conjures up a complex set of pictures, diagrams, and problem-solving strategies. To the students, it's a board, and it makes a difference which way it is tilted.
All my careful solutions of problems at the board simply made ME a better problem-solver.

4. Algorithms vs Understanding
What does it mean when students can solve stoichiometry problems, but cannot answer the following?
Nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas react to form ammonia gas by the reaction N H2  2 NH3 The box at right shows a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen molecules before the reaction begins.
Which of the boxes below correctly shows what the reaction mixture would look like after the reaction was complete?
There is a big difference between the mathematical ‘game’ of stoichiometry and being able to describe what is going on in a reaction vessel. Ideally, students would do both simultaneously.

5. How Do You Know? All students know the formula for water is H2O.
Very few are able to cite any evidence for why we believe this to be the case.
What does it mean to be ‘2 parts hydrogen and 1 part oxygen’? There can be a very real gap between their words and how they perceive matter at the microscopic level (for more than just water!!)

6. Do They Really Have an Atomic View of Matter?
Before we investigate the inner workings of the atom, let’s first make sure they really believe in atoms.
Students can state the Law of Conservation of Mass, but then will claim that mass is “lost” in some reactions.
When asked to represent matter at sub-microscopic level, many sketch matter using a continuous model.
The real roadblock to many students is not which atomic model they use, but whether they have ANY sufficiently developed atomic model that is consistently applied.
SAMPLE STUDENT WORK NEXT

7. Representation of Matter
Question: “What’s happening at the simplest level of matter?”
The steel wool turns color when heated. Some think that some part of the gas from the burner flame in now trapped in the wool, but few actually drew atoms that combined to form new substances.

8. More Storyboards Gas Diffusion: Where’s The Air? Aqueous Diffusion:
The Continuous Model of Matter

9. Where’s the Evidence?
Why teach a model of the inner workings of the atom without examining any of the evidence?
Students “know” the atom has a nucleus surrounded by electrons, but cannot use this model to account for electrical interactions.
What’s gained by telling a Cliff’s Notes version of the story of how our current model of the atom evolved?
This is why I have a problem with texts that ruin the story by going to the end of the book right away. If we want students to see science as more than a collection of facts, then we have to connect our models to the evidence that lead to them.

10. Instructional Objectives
Construct and use scientific models to describe, to explain, to predict and to control physical phenomena.
Model physical objects and processes using diagrammatic, graphical and algebraic representations.
Recognize a small set of particle models as the content core of chemistry.
Evaluate scientific models through comparison with empirical data.
View modeling as the procedural core of scientific knowledge
What should we teach?
Our students should learn to do the following:
They should see that physics involves learning to use a small set of models, rather than mastering an endless string of seemingly unrelated topics.

11. What Do We Mean by Model?
This word is used in many ways.
The physical system is objective; i.e., open to inspection by everyone. Each one of us attempts to make sense of it through the use of metaphors. Unfortunately, there is no way to peek into another’s mind to view their physical intuition. Instead, we are forced to make external symbolic representations; we can reach consensus on the way to do this, and judge the fidelity of one’s mental picture by the kinds of representations they make.
So the structure of a model is distributed over these various representations; later we’ll provide some specific examples.
Models are representations of structure in a physical system or process

12. Why Models? Models are basic units of knowledge
A few basic models are used again and again with only minor modifications.
Models help students connect
Macroscopic observations
Microscopic representations
Symbolic representations
Students WILL work from a model of matter** - the question is which model and is it
a rigorous, scientifically supported model
applied consistently to all situations
**refer to storyboards

13. Why modeling?!
To help students see science as a way of viewing the world rather than as a collection of facts.
To make the coherence of scientific knowledge more evident to students by making it more explicit.
Models and Systems are explicitly recognized as major unifying ideas for all the sciences by the AAAS Project 2061 for the reform of US science education.
Emphasis on points 1 and 2.

14. Uncovering Chemistry
Examine matter from outside-in instead of from inside-out
Observable Phenomena  Model
Students learn to trust scientific thinking, not just teacher/textbook authority
Organize content around a meaningful ‘Story of Matter’

15. Particle Models of Gradually Increasing Complexity
Begin with phenomena that can be accounted for by simple BB’s
Conservation of mass
Behavior of gases - KMT
Recognize that particles DO attract one another
“Sticky BB’s” account for behavior of condensed phases
Reference: “The Story So Far” doc

16. Models Evolve as Need Arises
Develop model of atom that can acquire charge after you examine behavior of charged objects
Atom with + core and mobile electrons should explain
Conductivity of solutions
Properties of ionic solids

17. Energy - Early and Often
Make energy an integral part of the story line
Help students develop a coherent picture of the role of energy in changes in matter
Energy storage modes within system
Transfer mechanisms between system and surroundings
Reference: Energy Paper

18. Reconnect Eth and Ech
Particles in system exchange Ek for Ech to rearrange atoms
181 kJ + N2 + O2 ––> 2 NO
Representation consistent with fact that an endothermic reaction absorbs energy, yet the system cools

19. How to Teach it? cooperative inquiry vs lecture/demonstration
constructivist vs transmissionist
cooperative inquiry vs lecture/demonstration
student-centered vs teacher-centered
active engagement vs passive reception
student activity vs teacher demonstration
student articulation vs teacher presentation
lab-based vs textbook-based
Here are the key ways in which the modeling method differs from conventional instruction.
Students present solutions to problems which they have to defend, rather than listen to clear presentations from the instructor. The instructor, by paying attention to student’s reasoning, can judge the level of student understanding.

20. Be the “Guide on the Side”
Don’t be the dispenser of knowledge
Help students develop tools to explain behavior of matter in a coherent way
Let the students do the talking
Ask, “How do you know that?”
Require particle diagrams when applicable

21. Preparing the Whiteboard

22. Making Presentation