A division of chemical education has been created within the chemistry department at Purdue University. The nature of chemical education, impediments to research and development in chemical education, and future directions of the division are discussed. (JN)

Presents a viewpoint regarding accomplishments of the McMaster Conference in Hamilton, Ontario, June 19-23, 1978, in terms of chemistry curricula in introductory chemistry courses. (CS)

Discusses the need to instill in students reasons to justify learning chemistry. (SL)

Examines the task of adding historical perspective to the structure of chemistry while teaching the basic chemical knowledge associated with a high school course. Suggested instructional methods include a biographical approach with a newspaper article format, a storytelling technique, and a detective approach. (GS)

Investigated outcomes of the use of the learning cycle, which divides instruction into the Piagetian phases of exploration, invention, and discovery in general college chemistry laboratory experiments. Differences between concrete and formal operational students were explored in students' ability to master chemistry material varying in cognitive…

Suggests that academic departments reshape the intellectual climate for chemistry education as one way to ensure the future of chemistry. Current practices in chemistry and possible benefits which may result if the system is modified are examined. These benefits include better public support and understanding of chemistry. (JN)

Teachers are often careless with words. This can lead to confused ideas and time spent in unlearning. (BB)

Presents four rebuttals to a suggestion that oxidation and reduction be defined in terms of increasing and decreasing oxidation numbers rather than as a gain or loss of electrons. (MLH)

A problem-solving method of teaching was used in the recitation sections of a freshmen chemistry course for science and engineering majors at Purdue University. The method was based on prior research which revealed that good problem solvers formed better representations and used heuristics more often than poor problem solvers. Consequently, the…

Reports the results of a survey of university faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and secondary school science teachers concerning the meanings of common chemical reaction terms. Some disagreement was noted. (CP)

Reviews Piagetian concepts, the identification of student cognitive level of development, and chemistry instruction. (SL)

Because thermodynamics is usually presented in a highly mathematical context, many students fail to comprehend even its intuitive aspects. Provides simple explanations, without complicated mathematics, for the three thermodynamics laws. (MLH)

Briefly compares/contrasts two learning theories. Purpose of the first is to inform while the second seeks to lead students to adjust understandings held about a field and/or a concept. Each theory is then related to the purpose of education, suggesting that the second is comparable with recent work in cognitive psychology. (JN)

Lists the sponsors and committee members for this conference on participant-paced programming in chemical education and provides general remarks about the conference from both the General Chairman and Report Coordinator. (MLH)