Investigative Study in Investigative Study in ChemistryChemistry

Sophia Cheng13 October 2009

Conducted in groups of 3 to 5 studentsConducted in groups of 3 to 5 students Provide students with opportunities to Provide students with opportunities to

design and conduct an investigation design and conduct an investigation with a view to solving a problemwith a view to solving a problem

Students will learn about scientific Students will learn about scientific processes and how these processes processes and how these processes work to generate new informationwork to generate new information

Topic XVI Investigative Study in Topic XVI Investigative Study in ChemistryChemistry

Aims of investigative studyAims of investigative study

Students can:Students can: apply their knowledge and understanding apply their knowledge and understanding

of chemistryof chemistry develop and apply various practical skillsdevelop and apply various practical skills develop skills such as creativity, critical develop skills such as creativity, critical

thinking, communication, problem-solvingthinking, communication, problem-solving develop understanding on nature of develop understanding on nature of

sciencescience

For learning and teachingFor learning and teachingTopic XVI in NSS Chemistry curriculumTopic XVI in NSS Chemistry curriculum

For assessment in SBAFor assessment in SBA

Practical related taskPractical related task Non-practical Non-practical related taskrelated task

Basic Chemical Basic Chemical AnalysisAnalysis

ExperimentExperiment InvestigativInvestigative Studye Study

AssignmentAssignment

WeightingWeighting 20%20% 30%30% 30%30% 20%20%

S5S5 ≧≧11 ≧≧33 11 ≧≧11

S6S6

Year of Year of examinationexamination

Implementation of SBAImplementation of SBA

2012 & 20132012 & 2013 practical related taskspractical related tasksinvestigative studyinvestigative studynon-practical related tasksnon-practical related tasks

2014 and 2014 and thereafterthereafter

practical related taskspractical related tasksinvestigative studyinvestigative studynon-practical related tasksnon-practical related tasks

Implementation timetable of SBAImplementation timetable of SBA

Before/While conducting IS, students Before/While conducting IS, students should be guided on:should be guided on: How to work together in a group to How to work together in a group to

develop an investigation plan and develop an investigation plan and solve a problemsolve a problem

How to define a researchable topicHow to define a researchable topic How to search for relevant How to search for relevant

information from various sourcesinformation from various sources How to write an investigation planHow to write an investigation plan How to write a laboratory report or How to write a laboratory report or

make a poster for presentationmake a poster for presentation

Investigative study (20 hours)Investigative study (20 hours) Design and conduct a first-hand investigationDesign and conduct a first-hand investigation

(a) Searching for and (a) Searching for and defining questionsdefining questions

3 hrs3 hrs

(b) Developing an (b) Developing an investigative planinvestigative plan

4 hrs4 hrs

(c) Conducting the (c) Conducting the investigationinvestigation

6 hrs6 hrs

(d) Organizing and (d) Organizing and analyzing data analyzing data

4 hrs4 hrs

(e) Presenting findings (e) Presenting findings 3 hrs3 hrs

1. Design

2. Process

3. Report

Using the allocated lesson time (20 Using the allocated lesson time (20 hrs)hrs)

SunSun MonMon TueTue WedWed ThuThu FriFri SatSat

11 2 (a)2 (a) 33 4 (a)4 (a) 55 66

77 88 9 (b)9 (b) 1010 11 (b)11 (b) 1212 1313

1414 1515 16 (b)16 (b) 1717 18 (c)18 (c) 1919 2020

2121 2222 23 (c)23 (c) 2424 25 (c)25 (c) 2626 2727

2828 2929 30 (c)30 (c) 3131

1 1 (c)(c) /(d)/(d)

22 33

44 55 6 (d)6 (d) 77 8 (d)8 (d) 99 1010

1111 1212 13 (e)13 (e) 1414 15 (e)15 (e) 1616 1717

1818 1919 2020 2121 2222 2323 2424

Using post-examination school Using post-examination school daysdays

SunSun MonMon TueTue WedWed ThuThu FriFri SatSat

1111 1212 1313 1414 1515 1616 1717

1818 19 19 2020 2121 2222 2323 2424

2525 2626 2727 2828 2929 3030

JulyJuly 11

22 33 (a)(a) 44 55 6 6 (b)(b) 77 88

99 10 10 (c)(c) 11 11 (c)(c) 12 12 (d)(d) 13 13 14 14 (e)(e)

1515

1616 1717 1818 1919 2020 2121 2222

Implementation scheduleImplementation scheduleProsPros ConsCons

Easter, Lunar Easter, Lunar New Year, New Year, Summer Summer holiday…holiday…

-Reserve more time for -Reserve more time for teachingteaching

-Long practical section-Long practical section

-Attendance -Attendance problemproblem

-Extra workload-Extra workload

-Extent of -Extent of involvementinvolvement

Post Post examinationexamination

-Reserve more time for -Reserve more time for teachingteaching

-Long practical section-Long practical section

-Attendance -Attendance problemproblem

-Clash with other -Clash with other projects of different projects of different subjectssubjects

Normal school Normal school daysdays

-Complement to -Complement to teachingteaching

-No attendance problem-No attendance problem

-Chopped practical -Chopped practical sectionssections

-Too hectic-Too hectic

Try-out: Making Your Own Acid-Base Try-out: Making Your Own Acid-Base IndicatorIndicator

Tasks:Tasks:1.1. Extract coloured pigments from planExtract coloured pigments from plan

t materialst materials2.2. Use the extract as acid-base indicatoUse the extract as acid-base indicato

r and find the concentration of alkali r and find the concentration of alkali in oven cleanerin oven cleaner

July

Information search and planning

Extraction of coloured pigmenExtraction of coloured pigmentsts

Choosing suitable indicatorsChoosing suitable indicators

Choosing suitable indicatorsChoosing suitable indicators

Find the concentration of alkali in oven cleaner

More examples

Salt content of snackSalt content of snack

(a)(a)Gravimetric methodGravimetric method(b)(b)Titrimetric methods:Titrimetric methods:

• Volhard method: back titration of AgVolhard method: back titration of Ag++ with KSCN using Fe with KSCN using Fe2+2+ as indicatoras indicator

• Mohr method: titration with AgMohr method: titration with Ag++ using K using K22CrOCrO44 as indicator as indicator

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 Design and make: Chemical cellcell

Self-heating food/drink containerSelf-heating food/drink container

Getting copper from its oreGetting copper from its ore

1.To extract copper metal from a given ore sample

2.To isolate product3.To calculate

extraction efficiency

4.To calculate cost of the method

CuCO3.Cu(OH)2.H2O(s)

CuO(s) CuSO4(aq)

Cu(s)

heat H2SO4(aq)

C(s), H2(g) or Town gas Zn(s) or electrolysis

Investigative Study Resource Book Investigative Study Resource Book

Appropriateness of the Appropriateness of the TopicTopic

Does the activity address something Does the activity address something worth learning?worth learning?

Is the cognitive demand appropriate?Is the cognitive demand appropriate? Do students have the required prior Do students have the required prior

knowledge and adequate skills?knowledge and adequate skills? Is the time available sufficient for the Is the time available sufficient for the

activity?activity?

Are resources such as journal articles, reAre resources such as journal articles, reference books, chemicals and apparatus ference books, chemicals and apparatus available?available?

Are there any safety concerns?Are there any safety concerns? Can laboratory technicians and others hCan laboratory technicians and others h

elp in its implementation?elp in its implementation?

Your concern…Your concern… 10 groups, 10 different 10 groups, 10 different

projectsprojects Scale of investigationScale of investigation Laboratory safetyLaboratory safety Clash with investigation Clash with investigation

of other science of other science subjects such as Physicssubjects such as Physics

Collaboration with lab Collaboration with lab tech and other teacherstech and other teachers

DiscussionDiscussion

1.1. When is the best time to implement When is the best time to implement IS? Why?IS? Why?

2.2. What chemistry investigations do you What chemistry investigations do you think are suitable for IS?think are suitable for IS?

3.3. How much autonomy should students How much autonomy should students have in deciding their research have in deciding their research questions?questions?

4.4. What guidelines regarding IS will you What guidelines regarding IS will you give to students? How will you guide give to students? How will you guide students to finish IS on schedule?students to finish IS on schedule?

5.5. How will you prepare yourself to How will you prepare yourself to implement IS?implement IS?

6.6. What is the role of the laboratory What is the role of the laboratory technician in IS?technician in IS?