K-12 Outreach: Seeing is Believing Chemistry Program

The UMD-MRSEC has partnered with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to take advantage of new curriculum reform efforts intended to develop durable, insightful demonstrations for general and organic chemistry courses. Entitled “Seeing is Believing,” this program is motivated by the belief that well planned; in-class demonstrations are highly effective means to illustrate the consequences of theoretical models developed in the classroom. Demonstrations can also be used to motivate the need for such models in the first place! The “Seeing is Believing” is led by Dr. Rob Walker, an associate professor of Chemistry and the associate chair of the University’s Chemical Physics Program. Dr. Walker and his team of three other faculty (Greer, Eichhorn and Davis) as well as two graduate students and one post-doctoral associate work together to develop demonstrations as well as information “bulletins” called “Chemistry Now!” that explore the chemistry behind current events. Support for this project is provided through the College of Chemical and Life Sciences Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) program.

The UMD-MRSEC is bringing these excellent demonstrations to the pre-college classroom through a partnership with Northwestern High School. In preparation for high school implementation, MRSEC worked with Northwestern High School’s AP Chemistry teacher to carefully align the demonstrations with the curriculum and MRSEC researchers were trained to use the demonstrations in the context of the high school classroom. MRSEC provides students with demonstration materials and equipment. This exciting part of the program allows students to conduct the demonstrations in pairs as inquiry-based mini-labs followed by group discussion. In spring 2006, MRSEC plans to introduce “Seeing is Believing” to Charles Flowers High School.

For more information on “Seeing is Believing” contact us at mrsec@umd.edu.