DIDACtic Tools
for Teaching Chemistry
Carbonyou can talk about it many different
ways; what would be yours? You can do your best and picture yourself
as the latest avant-garde modernist painter (right), or simply
use DIDAC (below). |
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Three different allotropic
forms of carbon, illustrated by diamond, graphite, and
fullerene.
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Because chemistry is fun and teaching it is not always easy, Agfa-Gevaert
N.V., Belgium, has developed and produced "didactic" tools
such as the DIDAC overhead transparency sheets. For more than five
years, Belgian chemistry teachers in several respected schools have
been using DIDAC overhead sheets. In the past year, and with the impetus
of the Belgian National Adhering Organization, IUPAC's Committee on
Chemistry and Industry (COCI), and, more recently, IUPAC's Committee
on Teaching of Chemistry (CTC) have recognized the value of this project,
and are actively promoting these materials.
Via a collaboration with UNESCO, and after the IUPAC Congress in
Berlin in 1999, DIDAC material was presented at advanced teacher training
courses January to May 2000 in Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Belarus,
Lithuania, Yemen, Niger, and Iran. By the end of this year, at least
10 more new training activities will be organized in Africa, Europe,
and the Caribbean; these training activities also feature a workshop
on microchemistry organized by CTC. By the end of 2001, the project
should be in more than 30 countries around the world. The international
use of DIDAC should increase because only simple facilities are required
for the different levels and different curricula.
As one chemistry teacher put it, "Sometimes it can be awfully
difficult to explain a chemical subject by drawing an illustrative
picture on the blackboard. Especially when you need three-dimensional
drawings, or you are dealing with topics like chemical bonds, equilibria,
etc. It is so much more relaxing if you already have the illustration
on an overhead sheet, as you then can concentrate on explaining the
concept. And that is exactly why I use DIDAC transparencies in my
lessons".
When designing the sheets, the topics that are difficult to illustrate
on a blackboard first came to mind. The carefully devised, attractive
graphical representations help students to visualize the concepts
and understand the theory. The sheets do not include narrative text,
which make them accessible regardless of the language spoken in class.
The sheets are designed for every level; the teacher selects only
the sheets that provide added value to the lesson and match the level
of the students in each class. Accompanying explanations for the teacher
are available in Dutch, French, and English. The sheets are not meant
to replace a course book, but merely to help explain topics that are
rather difficult to illustrate.
Contents
Five kits are currently available. Each illustrates several common
chemical subjects, from the role of chemistry in our daily lives to
basic theoretical concepts. Each teaching module consists of approximately
60 color transparencies and presents chemical concepts in an easy-to-understand
way.
A black-and-white version of the transparencies, from which copies
can be made, is included for the students. For example, the figure
above illustrates catalytic converters in cars, and the figure below
depicts a 2p y orbital. (Download
pdf of Didac Images, 383K)
Volume 1
The content is specifically designed for students in secondary and
higher education. As each sheet is self-contained, the teacher can
use only the sheets that are applicable to their students and match
their level. Thus, teachers still have complete freedom to design
lessons in the way they feel is best for their classes.
High Pedagogical Value
The DIDAC editorial team consisted of Agfa chemists and an interuniversity
group of professors and teachers from several Flemish universities,
colleges, and didactic centers. This team ensured the educational
value of each set of overhead sheets. They also selected the topics
that were to be addressed in consultation with teachers, and in relation
to the curriculum of secondary schools and colleges. The accompanying
explanations provided with each teaching module constitute a valuable
support for pre-service and in-service teacher training. The DIDAC
editorial team welcomes any comments and suggestions from the chemistry
community.
www.agfa.com/didac/
The DIDAC web site presents detailed contents of each volume. Sample
sheets can be viewed there in color and as they will appear on an
overhead projector. Price and ordering information are also available
on the DIDAC web site, or you may contact
IUPAC Secretariat
P.O. Box 13757
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3757
USA; Tel: +1 919 485 8700
Fax: +1 919 485 8706
E-mail: [email protected]
URL specifically for DIDAC: http://www.iupac.org/projects/1998/022_17_98.html.