Activity 1: A Tool for Inquiry - LOGAL Chemical Kinetics
Initial Thoughts

What is the reason for this reflection?

Logal Explorer

 You already should have done the First Looks of the Logal Chemical Kinetics simulation. Now take some time to think about what you did.

A Field Expert will join your online discussion.

What's a Field Expert?

 A Field Expert is a teacher or staff member of the project you are studying. The Field Expert can be sent email or addressed in the discussion area. You'll be able to get answers to questions like "This tool looks awfully complex. Does it work with students?", "What age levels have you done LOGAL Chemical Kinetics with? Does it work?" Ask whatever you wish.
how long will it take? One hour to post your ideas and read the postings of others.
Assignments:
  1. What good is this tool? What concepts can it make concrete? What are its limitations? What are its advantages?
  2. Where is the inquiry here?
  3. The pallets let you control temperature, mass, size, and energy of reaction for these molecules.
    What freedom to build knowledge did these tools give you? Did you discover any new relationships for yourself?
  4. What hypotheses did you make? How did you verify them? What experimental designs did you come up with?
  5. Chemical Kinetics is a microworld. What limitations do you feel this simulation presents?
Post your comments in the Logal Chemical Kinetics discussion area. Look for the Tools: LCK Activity 1 Discussion thread. You should read the comments of others and make 2 of your own.
Go to the LOGAL Chemical Kinetics Discussion Area.

Further Reflection

What is the reason for this second reflection?

 You have worked with the LOGAL simulation tool for a short time admittedly. Please reflect on what you have learned so far and pose some questions to yourself and the group about your experience, as you think about using more inquiry-based methods in your classroom.

Share your insights and your questions with your group and the Field Expert.

how long will it take? TWO HOURS

One hour to post your ideas.

One hour to comment on postings and other reflections.

Assignments:
1. How does LOGAL Chemical Kinetics as a simulation support inquiry? Can you describe the concept of inquiry in the context of LOGAL Chemical Kinetics? That is, what is inquiry outside of this simulation or what levels of inquiry have you been exposed to prior to this experience? Does your experience with LOGAL Chemical Kinetics bring a new or different meaning to the concept of inquiry itself?

2. Take time to think about the steps which were involved in addressing the questions about the effect of changing the temperature, size, and mass parameters. Note that by steps, we are asking you to think about the process that you went through in your head to work through these questions, not the actual procedural steps in using the simulation model.

3. What was your experience with the suggested challenge relating to changing the heat of reaction?

  • What were you able to learn about endothermic and exothermic reactions with this microworld?
  • The model is complex. One needs to pose "what if" investigations and keep track of what happens. Do you think your students would use the tool effectively?
  • Use the resource of the Field Expert. What happens when this tool is used in classrooms?
    		•
    Post your comments in the Logal Chemical Kinetics discussion area. Look for the Tools: LCK Activity 1 Discussion thread. You should read the comments of others and make 2 of your own.
    Go to the LOGAL Chemical Kinetics Discussion Area.