Web Resources from the 2013 Inorganic Curriculum Survey

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 10:49

 

In the 2013 Inorganic Curriculum Survey, respondents were asked about the resources they used when they teach inorganic chemistry. About 20% of respondents selected "other" and provided information about these resources. A number of people mentioned specific websites. This collection consists of the websites submitted in the survey.

Developing effective student learning groups

Submitted by Joanne Stewart / Hope College on Thu, 05/21/2015 - 14:44
Description

Asking students to work in groups and developing group projects is always challenging. This 5-slides about describes approaches for increasing the effectiveness and success of student groups. It also contains some helpful links to resources on how to form groups and help students develop group skills.

Gumdrop models of the 7 crystal systems and the 14 Bravais Lattices

Submitted by Joy Heising / Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS University) on Mon, 05/18/2015 - 19:01
Description

Groups of 3-4 students follow this handout to create models of the 7 crystal systems and the 14 Bravais lattices using DOTS gumdrops, bamboo skewers and wood toothpicks. 

 

Tanabe Sugano Diagram JAVA Applets

Submitted by Amanda Reig / Ursinus College on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 13:53
Description

A series of JAVA applets of Tanbe-Sugano diagrams were developed by Prof. Robert Lancashire at the University of the West Indies.  These diagrams allow students to determine deltao/B values based on ratios of peak energies without the pain of rulers and drawing lines.  There are also features that allow a person to input values and automatically calculate certain parameters.  You can also quickly find values of delta_o and B for certain complexes via a drop-down menu on some of the pages (e.g. Cr3+ complexes).    

I do not think it means what you think it means.

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Thu, 04/16/2015 - 14:53
Description

It is the classic game of telephone (or whatever local varient name you might use). Put a bunch of people in a line. Start by whispering something to the first person and then have them whisper it to the next. This process continues until the last person states out loud what they heard. Usually the starting and ending statements are quite different. When students are reading a paper, it is fairly likely that they feel anything the paper they are reading says about a reference is correct.

Electron Counting and CBC Assignments for Organometallic Complexes

Submitted by Matt Whited / Carleton College on Tue, 03/17/2015 - 16:46
Description

This in-class group activity provides several examples of varying difficulty for students to assign MLXZ classifications and electron counts to organometallic complexes.  Though some of the problems are straightforward, some are really ambiguous, and the intent is for student groups to grapple with the issues raised by each one and present their findings to the class to spark further discussion.

Kinesthetic Learning: Crystal Symmetry Through Dance

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Thu, 02/12/2015 - 11:01
Description

This website was put together by David W. Mogk, Montana State University–professor of geology and contra/square dance caller. Using square dancing, he shows symmetry elements present in space groups. There are videos on the website, but everything seems simple enough to do in class.