Institute for Chemistry Didactics

Fliednerstraße 2148149 Münster

Germany

Nina Harsch

PhD Candidate and Research AssistantInstitute for Chemistry DidacticsResearch group of Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Barke

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

“Air and Atmospheric Pollution” in Senior Natural Science Class

> An Empirical Study and a Resultant Lecture Series

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

2„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Introduction„Air and atmospheric pollution“: A globally relevant topic…

greenhouse eff ectozone

acid rain

Green

house

gases

Global Mixing Ratio [Vol%]

1750 2005

CO2 280 ppm 379 ppm

O3

(trop.)5 ppb 40 ppb

N2O 270 ppb 319 ppb

CH4 715 ppb1.774 ppb

CFC – 4 ppb

SF6 – 7 ppt

Greenhouse Eff ect

Acid Rain

Ozone

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Empirical Study

What do college students know about...

3„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Air-

composition

- trace gases

- air

pollutantsTarget group:1.500 college students of grade 10 and 12

from Germany, Spain, Taiwan and Russia

(+ 100 university students from Germany)

Greenhouse Effect

- greenhouse gases

- natural / human

- consequences

Ozone- strato / tropo

- consequences

-

countermeasure

s

Acid Rain- natural /

human

- sources

- consequences

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Principal Findings of the Empirical Study (college students only)

4„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

z

20 % Main air components: N2 and O2

misconceptions:

„All trace gases are air pollutants.“ „All air pollutants are greenhouse gases.“

correctreplies Greenhouse Effect

30 %28 %

Correct description of the GHEWater vapour as a greenhouse gas

misconceptions:

„The greenhouse effect... ...is completely anthropogenic.“ ...is caused by/causes the ozone hole.“

correctreplies Acid Rain

55 %40 %35 %

SO2 and NO2 cause acid rainCO2 causes (slightly) acid rainConsequences of acid rain

misconceptions:„Acid rain... ...is completely anthropogenic.“ ...is concentrated acid.“

correct replies Ozone

21 %44 %44 %

Existence of tropospheric ozoneCorrect location of ozone holeCFCs cause ozone hole

misconceptions„Ozone exists only in the ozone layer.“„The ozone hole is located above the industrial countries.“

correctreplies Air correct

replies Greenhouse Effect

correct replies Ozone correct

replies Acid Rain

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Lesson Activity Content

1 - 3 ExpertLearning

4 main focuses:- Air- Acid rain- Ozone- Greenhouse

effect

4 Concept Map

- Thematic summary- Thematic

interrelations

5 - 7 In-depthStudies

- Further knowledge- Experiments

Lecture Series

Conceptual design:Stage 1: Literature research, expert consultations, empirical

studyStage 2: Lecture series – Pilot Concept

5„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Lecture Series

6„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Conceptual design:Stage 3: Lecture series – Optimized Concept

Lesson

Activity

1 - 3Expert

Learning

4Concept

Map

5 - 7In-depthStudies

Lesson Activity Content

1

Teacher-Class-

Dialogue + Experimen

ts

- Main air components

- Trace gases- Air pollutants

2 - 4 GroupLearning

3 main focuses:- Acid rain- Ozone- Greenhouse

effect

5 - 7Group

Presentations

- Presentations- Experiments

8 - 9 ConceptMap

- Thematic summary- Thematic

interrelations

Weaknesses:- expert learning- experiments- topic rotation

Pilot concept

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Main results of the lecture series (pilot concept)

7„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Main results of the lecture series

8„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

+ 20 % + 8 % + 21 % + 30 % + 13 %- 7 % - 8 % - 6 %

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

Conclusions

The topic „air and atmospheric pollution“ is demanding.

Due to the complexity of the subject area, there is still room for further improvement.

A survey amongst teachers showed their interest in the incorporation of the lecture series in their class.

In order to assure the quality of the tuition, teachers´ trainings are very important.

9„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Nina Harsch (nina.harsch@uni-muenster.de)

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

M Ü N S T E R

G E R M A N Y

ICCE-ECRICE conference, Rome, 15th - 20th July 2012

References

10„Air and atmospheric pollution“ in senior natural science class

Data on greenhouse effect:IPCC (2007), JACOBEIT (2007), WEISCHET & ENDLICHER (2008), BUCK & HOHL (2010)

Data on stratospheric ozone:NASA (2012)

Data on NOx and SO2 emissions:EMISSIONS DATABASE FOR GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (2010)

Publication about empirical study:HARSCH, ESTAY, BARKE (2011): Treibhauseffekt, Ozon und Saurer Regen - Wissensstand und Fehlvorstellungen deutscher und spanischer Schüler. Praxis der Naturwissenschaften Chemie 3/60.