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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > September  >
In the Classroom
Authentic Research within the Grasp of High School Students
Annis Hapkiewicz
Okemos High School, Okemos, MI 48864
Cover
September 1999
Vol. 76 No. 9
p. 1212
Abstract
It is difficult for high school students to understand how research is done. Few opportunities are provided for them to answer questions that have not been thoroughly discussed in their textbooks. However, there are research questions to be explored that are within the experience of students. The research problem that is described arose when a colleague posed a question: "Will an ice cube melt faster in salt water or tap water?" After a discussion of individual predictions students were challenged to design a set of experiments to answer the question. The importance of issues, such as identifying and controlling variables, became a reality for the students as they worked on the problem. From an analysis of their data, working as teams, they developed models to explain their observations, and then designed and conducted experiments to determine which was the best model. The learning process describe could be duplicated in any chemistry classroom, and it can also serve as a framework for exploring other problems as they arise from everyday observations. Student response to this approach was overwhelmingly positive.
More Information
*  Citation
 Hapkiewicz, Annis. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1212.
*  Keywords
 Introductory / High School Chemistry; Problem-Based Learning; Collaborative / Cooperative Learning; Solutions / Solvents
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 July 30, 1999
June 23, 2005
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