teaching ap chemistry the english way

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Teaching AP Chemistry the English WayTeaching AP Chemistry the English Way ChemEd ChemEd 20032003, Auburn, AL, , Auburn, AL, 07/27/200307/27/2003

SERMACS, Atlanta, GA, SERMACS, Atlanta, GA, 11/16/200311/16/2003 GISA, Atlanta, GA, GISA, Atlanta, GA, 11/07/200511/07/2005

Adrian Dingle’s Chemistry Pages: www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com

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Teaching AP Chemistry the English WayTeaching AP Chemistry the English Way ChemEdChemEd 20032003, Auburn, AL, , Auburn, AL, 07/27/200307/27/2003


““Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sunMad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun””

-- Noel Coward, Noel Coward, 19321932


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““I refuse to discuss anything in this class that is not related I refuse to discuss anything in this class that is not related to the AP examto the AP exam””

-- Adrian Dingle, Adrian Dingle, 20012001


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STRANDSSTRANDS

11. . The Context & BackgroundThe Context & Background

�� The English SystemThe English System �� The MotivationThe Motivation

22. . The MethodThe Method

�� Before you start to teachBefore you start to teach �� The TeachingThe Teaching

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STRAND STRAND 11: : The Context & BackgroundThe Context & Background

The English System The English System

�� Freshman & Sophomore years devoted to external standardized tesFreshman & Sophomore years devoted to external standardized tests ts ((GCSEGCSE’’ss) ) –– closest equivalent is SAT IIclosest equivalent is SAT II

Students have the ability to drop subjects prior to studying inStudents have the ability to drop subjects prior to studying in these years and these years and

typically study between typically study between 88--1010 subjects subjects �� Junior and Senior years devoted to external standardized tests Junior and Senior years devoted to external standardized tests ((A LevelsA Levels) ) –– AP AP

equivalentequivalent Only a maximum of Only a maximum of 3.53.5 subjects studied in these years subjects studied in these years


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STRAND STRAND 11: : The Context & Background continuedThe Context & Background continued::

The English System continuedThe English System continued::

�� Very heavy emphasis on standardized, external examsVery heavy emphasis on standardized, external exams. . Teachers, students and Teachers, students and parents are all heavily influencedparents are all heavily influenced

�� Results of standardized external exams critical to further and Results of standardized external exams critical to further and higher education and higher education and to career pathto career path

�� No high school transcriptNo high school transcript �� Earlier specializationEarlier specialization �� Much earlier deepening rather than broadeningMuch earlier deepening rather than broadening


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�� Further InformationFurther Information QCA QCA –– Qualifications and Curriculum AuthorityQualifications and Curriculum Authority wwwwww..qcaqca..orgorg..ukuk National CurriculumNational Curriculum wwwwww..ncnc..ukuk..netnet


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�� Depth versus BreadthDepth versus Breadth Areas that A Level Chemistry covers that the AP doesnAreas that A Level Chemistry covers that the AP doesn’’t, include;t, include; Organic chemistry Organic chemistry ((including nomenclature, isomerism, mechanisms, reactions, including nomenclature, isomerism, mechanisms, reactions,

structure determination and synthesisstructure determination and synthesis)), Group I, II & VII chemistry, Born, Group I, II & VII chemistry, Born--HaberHaber cycles, Transition metal chemistrycycles, Transition metal chemistry


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�� Depth versus Breadth continuedDepth versus Breadth continued::

A series of seven examination papers that can be repeatedA series of seven examination papers that can be repeated

Practical test Practical test ((lab examlab exam) ) or continually assessed lab work or continually assessed lab work ((absolutely no motivation absolutely no motivation in terms of the exam to do lab work on AP coursein terms of the exam to do lab work on AP course) )

Approximately three times the contact time over two years compaApproximately three times the contact time over two years compared to one year of red to one year of AP studyAP study


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�� Exam GradesExam Grades

No such thing as a high school transcriptNo such thing as a high school transcript

Consequence is that academic life & death depends upon exam resConsequence is that academic life & death depends upon exam resultsults

Inevitable emphasis on teaching to the testInevitable emphasis on teaching to the test


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�� The Tutorial College SystemThe Tutorial College System

Exam grade factoryExam grade factory

Very existence a consequence of the system Very existence a consequence of the system

Corporate feelCorporate feel

ReRe--take students specifically there to take students specifically there to ““bump upbump up”” gradesgrades


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The MotivationThe Motivation

�� OriginsOrigins

No internal school syllabus documentNo internal school syllabus document

Should Regular and Honors classes be SAT II preparation?Should Regular and Honors classes be SAT II preparation?


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The Motivation continuedThe Motivation continued::

�� PersonalPersonal AP Chemistry not necessarily about; Chemistry in the real worldAP Chemistry not necessarily about; Chemistry in the real world, Entertainment or , Entertainment or

InspirationInspiration Teaching to the test is valid because; AP Chemistry syllabus isTeaching to the test is valid because; AP Chemistry syllabus is the the ““gold standardgold standard””

for high school, Title of course supposes you are teaching to tfor high school, Title of course supposes you are teaching to the test by definitionhe test by definition


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Motivation behind TAPCTEW continuedMotivation behind TAPCTEW continued::

�� GoalsGoals

Not peddling this method, this is not a sales pitchNot peddling this method, this is not a sales pitch! ! Others have Others have encouraged meencouraged me

Why no sales pitch? SimpleWhy no sales pitch? Simple. . All our circumstances are so different All our circumstances are so different –– do do what works for youwhat works for you

Absolute recognition of validity of all methodsAbsolute recognition of validity of all methods

Take what you want Take what you want ((if anythingif anything) ) and throw the rest awayand throw the rest away


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STRAND STRAND 22: : The Method continuedThe Method continued::

Before you start to teachBefore you start to teach

�� Subject KnowledgeSubject Knowledge At this level, less can be moreAt this level, less can be more!! No time for tangential discussionsNo time for tangential discussions Does extra understanding really help?Does extra understanding really help? EE..gg. . EntropyEntropy Far too difficult to really understandFar too difficult to really understand Distill down to; degree of disorder, predicting change, Distill down to; degree of disorder, predicting change, ∆∆G G = = ∆∆H H –– TT∆∆SS. . TheThe AP Exam AP Exam

demands no moredemands no more What level is required? Let the AP questions be your guideWhat level is required? Let the AP questions be your guide


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Before you start to teach continuedBefore you start to teach continued::

�� Build the syllabusBuild the syllabus Loose structure of Acorn topic outline woefully inadequateLoose structure of Acorn topic outline woefully inadequate Sample syllabus?? What is that all about??Sample syllabus?? What is that all about?? Consider differences in EDEXCEL and College BoardConsider differences in EDEXCEL and College Board’’s details detail Syllabus must be motivated by old AP questions Syllabus must be motivated by old AP questions The syllabus DOES NOT tell you what to teach or what to learnThe syllabus DOES NOT tell you what to teach or what to learn Should include what is NOT needed for the examShould include what is NOT needed for the exam


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�� Build the syllabus continuedBuild the syllabus continued:: Further informationFurther information EDEXCELEDEXCEL wwwwww..edexceledexcel..orgorg..ukuk OCROCR wwwwww..ocrocr..orgorg..ukuk AQAAQA wwwwww..aqaaqa..orgorg..ukuk


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�� Build the scheduleBuild the schedule Work backwards from examWork backwards from exam Build in review timeBuild in review time You have an obligation to finish EVERYTHINGYou have an obligation to finish EVERYTHING National Mole Day, tieNational Mole Day, tie--dying Tdying T--Shirts etcShirts etc..??????????


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The TeachingThe Teaching

�� EmphasisEmphasis The exam is everythingThe exam is everything Be specific Be specific –– ee..gg. . equation writingequation writing EvenhandednessEvenhandedness Relative importance Relative importance ((# of points# of points) ) of topics must be matched to timeof topics must be matched to time


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The Teaching continuedThe Teaching continued::

�� HomeworkHomework Motivated by increasing the AP score Motivated by increasing the AP score –– NEVER busy workNEVER busy work AP questions must be the source AP questions must be the source –– ultimate assessmentultimate assessment Issue old AP exams Issue old AP exams –– same color papersame color paper Critical grading of homework Critical grading of homework –– otherwise whatotherwise what’’s the point??s the point??


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�� TestingTesting Motivated by increasing the AP score Motivated by increasing the AP score –– NEVER testing for the sake of itNEVER testing for the sake of it AP questions must be the source AP questions must be the source –– ultimate assessmentultimate assessment Seventeen tests, two mock exams, one school examSeventeen tests, two mock exams, one school exam Every single equation writing since Every single equation writing since 19611961 between January and May between January and May Issuing of the same data packet in exactly the same formatIssuing of the same data packet in exactly the same format


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�� GradingGrading Become intimately familiar with the scoring standardsBecome intimately familiar with the scoring standards DonDon’’t allow internal school grading procedures to supercede APt allow internal school grading procedures to supercede AP If necessary create two scalesIf necessary create two scales


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�� Exam PreparationExam Preparation i.i. The Mock ExamThe Mock Exam Logistics and rubric exactly the sameLogistics and rubric exactly the same Same time and daySame time and day Same room, same seating Same room, same seating ((covers all bases covers all bases –– marching bands etcmarching bands etc.).) Strategies for multiple choice and choosing questionsStrategies for multiple choice and choosing questions


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�� Exam Preparation continuedExam Preparation continued:: ii.ii. Predicting GradesPredicting Grades Tests real situation versus the perceived situationTests real situation versus the perceived situation


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�� Exam Preparation continuedExam Preparation continued:: iii.iii. The Actual AP examThe Actual AP exam ClothingClothing Calculators and BatteriesCalculators and Batteries TransportTransport BreakfastBreakfast PaymentPayment Extended timeExtended time Unforeseen circumstancesUnforeseen circumstances


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�� Exam Preparation continuedExam Preparation continued:: iv.iv. After the examAfter the exam ThatThat’’s up to yous up to you I donI don’’t discuss the exam or open an AP book again until midt discuss the exam or open an AP book again until mid--AugustAugust


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SUMMARYSUMMARY

Most important pointsMost important points

�� If you teach a course with AP in the title you are obligated toIf you teach a course with AP in the title you are obligated to attempt to maximize attempt to maximize your students scoresyour students scores

�� The most narrowly prescribed syllabus does NOT tell you what toThe most narrowly prescribed syllabus does NOT tell you what to teach nor does it teach nor does it tell your students what to learntell your students what to learn

�� DonDon’’t be shy about teaching to the testt be shy about teaching to the test. . AP is the gold standard in high school, so if AP is the gold standard in high school, so if you are you TTTT you ARE setting high standardsyou are you TTTT you ARE setting high standards

�� Never forget, that regardless of every other factor, your studeNever forget, that regardless of every other factor, your students nts ((and to some and to some degree, youdegree, you) ) will be judged by what happens in a three hour period in May anwill be judged by what happens in a three hour period in May and the d the score that their performance translates into score that their performance translates into


teaching ap chemistry the english way

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