Using art, music, dance and drama to make chemistry accessible to all

CHED 1519

Zafra M. Lerman, zafral@aol.com, Institute for Science Education and Science Communication, Columbia College, 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
A Chinese proverb states: "I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.” At the Science Institute, Columbia College Chicago, we believe strongly in this Chinese proverb. Therefore, we use the arts so students will remember, but we also have them create their own artistic projects, so that they will understand. This moves the class from a passive viewing mode to an active learning mode. The students can use any art media they feel the most comfortable, from computer animation (High Tech) to dance and drama (No Tech). These projects are used as an alternative assessment method where the assessment and evaluation is done in a constructive way by the whole class and not just by the instructor. Many institutions in the US and around the world have adopted this method; the National Science Foundation awarded a collaborative grant (together with Princeton University and Indiana University) to adapt this method at the respective institutions. This method has been proven successful with undergraduate students, with science teachers and with middle and high school students. Examples will be shown during the lecture.
 

Using the Arts to Teach Chemistry
8:30 AM-10:45 AM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- HEC A, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008