[neact] Re: AP Chemistry
- From: "Dave Crockett" <dcrockett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 09:14:08 -0500
Hi!
Whether that is generally the case, for the greater part of my students, having
students take a first year of regular chemistry would allow them to internalize
more of the advanced ideas in the AP class. AP is so fast paced and content
driven that there is little time to spend doing any of the type of instruction
that I believe to be "Best Teaching Practice." We don't have AP at my
school-instead students sign up for Honors Challenge-a set of standards that
extend beyond the regular curriculum. When I teach about "Factors that
Influence the Rates of Reactions" only those students are learning to use the
quadratic to calculate equilibrium expressions, etc. Students that don't
participate use Spec-20's for quantitative measurements in lab
activities-Honors Chalenge students learn about Beer's Law., etc. I believe in
the "Less is More" philosophy and have not had any complaints from my students
who have taken Chem in college later on. The drive for AP courses in high
school is bound up with many more objectives such as having a transcript look
good-in terms of lasting knowledge I believe recent studies have shown that
having an AP chem course in college is not a predictor for advanced
achievement. It would be interesting to see what correlation there is for
students that took both a regular and AP course is....
Regards
Dave Crockett
----- Original Message -----
From: Meledath Govindan
To: neact@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:18 PM
Subject: [neact] AP Chemistry
Dear Colleagues,
Perhaps you can enlighten me regarding my question about AP Chemistry. I was
of the impression that AP chemistry is generally taught after the students have
taken a year of chemistry. Is this true? I know at least one school system
where AP Chemistry is taught in lieu of an Honors Chemistry and students have
been struggling. As a result, not many are signing up for that course and
dropping down to the next level, where they (otherwise honors students) are not
being challenged. I would appreciate receiving some feedback from my HS
chemistry colleagues. Thanks.
Mel
Meledath Govindan, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Fitchburg State College
160 Pearl St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
(978)-665-3628 (Office)
(978)-665-3578 (FAX)
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