10 Highlights from AP Chemistry Summer Institute 2023 (APSI) Day 1

I am attending an AP Chemistry summer institute for the next few days. I will post a few highlights and valuable links so you can glean some teaching value!

This might be a little random, but I wanted to show you the things that made the most impact.

1. Exclusions on the AP Chemistry Test: We do not have to teach the triple point phase diagram, colligative properties, and the bonding geometries like face-centered cubic etc.

2. Consider having a parent meeting at the beginning of the year to make sure that parents, students and teacher are all on the same page as far as the rigor and expectations of the class.

3. U of O CIDER site is valuable for explanations, demonstrations, and digital modelling. Link here.

4. While doing a guided inquiry lab, if you cannot identify the learning cycle that will take place before, during and after the lab, then the kids can't either. Make sure to anticipate and facilitate the learning cycle of Exploration, Concept Analysis, and Application.

5. Start a lab with exploration, not answers.

6. Use the observations and data obtained from a lab to develop theoretical understanding rather than confirming things they already know. Example: Don't have the students prove what the ideal gas constant is. Have them explore and build understanding of how the ideal gas law is applied.

7. I have started coffee cup calorimetry with the equation: qwater = -qmetal. Instead use qgain + qlost = 0 This will help eliminate wrong signs.

8. Have the students identify the dangers of the lab, rather than you preaching to them.

9. There are some magnetic models produced by https://3dmoleculardesigns.com/product/water-student-modeling-pack/ that are pretty neat. (I'm not an affiliate, just saw these for the first time today)

10. Stoich Decks games are a great way to increase engagement in the classroom. (Just kidding, that isn't from APSI, that is from me. But still, you should try!) Shop now!