1. Investigative Study in Chemistry Sophia Cheng 13 October 2009

2. Conducted in groups of 3 to 5 students Conducted in groups of 3 to 5 students Provide students with opportunities to design and conduct an investigation with a view to solving a problem Provide students with opportunities to design and conduct an investigation with a view to solving a problem Students will learn about scientific processes and how these processes work to generate new information Students will learn about scientific processes and how these processes work to generate new information Topic XVI Investigative Study in Chemistry

3. Aims of investigative study Students can: Students can: apply their knowledge and understanding of chemistry apply their knowledge and understanding of chemistry develop and apply various practical skills develop and apply various practical skills develop skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving develop skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving develop understanding on nature of science develop understanding on nature of science

4. For learning and teaching For learning and teaching Topic XVI in NSS Chemistry curriculum For assessment in SBA For assessment in SBA Practical related task Non-practical related task Basic Chemical Analysis Experiment Investigative Study Assignment Weighting20%30%30%20% S5 ≧1≧1≧1≧1 ≧3≧3≧3≧31 ≧1≧1≧1≧1 S6

5. Year of examination Implementation of SBA 2012 & 2013  practical related tasks  investigative study  non-practical related tasks 2014 and thereafter  practical related tasks  investigative study  non-practical related tasks Implementation timetable of SBA

6. Before/While conducting IS, students should be guided on: How to work together in a group to develop an investigation plan and solve a problem How to work together in a group to develop an investigation plan and solve a problem How to define a researchable topic How to define a researchable topic How to search for relevant information from various sources How to search for relevant information from various sources How to write an investigation plan How to write an investigation plan How to write a laboratory report or make a poster for presentation How to write a laboratory report or make a poster for presentation

7. Investigative study (20 hours) Design and conduct a first-hand investigation Design and conduct a first-hand investigation (a) Searching for and defining questions 3 hrs (b) Developing an investigative plan 4 hrs (c) Conducting the investigation 6 hrs (d) Organizing and analyzing data 4 hrs (e) Presenting findings 3 hrs 1. Design 2. Process 3. Report

8. Using the allocated lesson time (20 hrs) SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 1 2 (a) 3 4 (a) 56 78 9 (b) 10 11 (b) 1213 1415 16 (b) 17 18 (c) 1920 2122 23 (c) 24 25 (c) 2627 2829 30 (c) 31 1 (c) /(d) 23 45 6 (d) 7 8 (d) 910 1112 13 (e) 14 15 (e) 1617 18192021222324

9. Using post-examination school days SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 11121314151617 18192021222324 252627282930 July1 2 3 (a) 45 6 (b) 78 9 10 (c) 11 (c) 12 (d) 13 14 (e) 15 16171819202122

10. Implementation schedule ProsCons Easter, Lunar New Year, Summer holiday … -Reserve more time for teaching -Long practical section -Attendance problem -Extra workload -Extent of involvement Post examination -Reserve more time for teaching -Long practical section -Attendance problem -Clash with other projects of different subjects Normal school days -Complement to teaching -No attendance problem -Chopped practical sections -Too hectic

11. Try-out: Making Your Own Acid-Base Indicator Tasks: 1. Extract coloured pigments from plant materials 2. Use the extract as acid-base indicator and find the concentration of alkali in oven cleaner

13. Information search and planning

14. Extraction of coloured pigments

15. Choosing suitable indicators

17. Find the concentration of alkali in oven cleaner

18. More examples Salt content of snack (a)Gravimetric method (b)Titrimetric methods: Volhard method: back titration of Ag + with KSCN using Fe 2+ as indicator Volhard method: back titration of Ag + with KSCN using Fe 2+ as indicator Mohr method: titration with Ag + using K 2 CrO 4 as indicator Mohr method: titration with Ag + using K 2 CrO 4 as indicator

19. This chemical cell consists of 9 pairs of metal couples. Its voltage is between 2 – 2.5V. “Coin Cell” made by aluminium foil and coins. Design and make: Chemical cell

20. Self-heating food/drink container

21. Getting copper from its ore 1.To extract copper metal from a given ore sample 2.To isolate product 3.To calculate extraction efficiency 4.To calculate cost of the method CuCO 3.Cu(OH) 2.H 2 O(s) CuO(s) CuSO 4 (aq) Cu(s) heat H 2 SO 4 (aq) C(s), H 2 (g) or Town gasZn(s) or electrolysis

22. Investigative Study Resource Book

23. Appropriateness of the Topic Does the activity address something worth learning? Does the activity address something worth learning? Is the cognitive demand appropriate? Is the cognitive demand appropriate? Do students have the required prior knowledge and adequate skills? Do students have the required prior knowledge and adequate skills? Is the time available sufficient for the activity? Is the time available sufficient for the activity?

24. Are resources such as journal articles, reference books, chemicals and apparatus available? Are resources such as journal articles, reference books, chemicals and apparatus available? Are there any safety concerns? Are there any safety concerns? Can laboratory technicians and others help in its implementation? Can laboratory technicians and others help in its implementation?

25. Your concern … 10 groups, 10 different projects 10 groups, 10 different projects Scale of investigation Scale of investigation Laboratory safety Laboratory safety Clash with investigation of other science subjects such as Physics Clash with investigation of other science subjects such as Physics Collaboration with lab tech and other teachers Collaboration with lab tech and other teachers

26. Discussion 1. When is the best time to implement IS? Why? 2. What chemistry investigations do you think are suitable for IS? 3. How much autonomy should students have in deciding their research questions?

27. 4. What guidelines regarding IS will you give to students? How will you guide students to finish IS on schedule? 5. How will you prepare yourself to implement IS? 6. What is the role of the laboratory technician in IS?