OK—what did you see? Acronym city? Pictures of instruments that appear to be from a sci-fi movie? A number of plots that present deviations from the median values? So did I. Before you close this issue and say, “It’s not for me.”— think. I know I don’t have the background that gives me the knowledge I need to fully comprehend this symposium, but is it of little value? No! Use it as a means to identify the gap that exists between what we typically teach and where we need to be going. Ball et al. discuss how a “comprehensive” university explores the relationship between research and teaching and how a “whole new arsenal” is needed. So, how do we contribute and proceed?

Colleges devoted to chemical technology had the foresight to collaborate with industry and perform what is known as a “gap analysis”. The assessment identified what colleges emphasized and what industry needed. After hours of curriculum revisions, what resulted was a common document that satisfied both interested parties.

What knowledge and skills do we need to teach our students to prepare them to enter the work force? First, we teachers need to look at our own knowledge and skills—we cannot teach what we do not know. Then, we need to identify the knowledge and skills necessary to guide our students from today’s typical textbook-suggested curriculum to where they need to be to succeed in this technologically oriented world. As is pointed out by Miller et al. and Cancilla, the use of instrumentation in the lab impacts conceptual understanding and attitudes, fosters the construction of new knowledge and skills, and improves instruction. Find out about remote instrumentation that you might take advantage of to bring cutting-edge instruments to your students.

Chemistry is said to be built on a foundation of “change”, but how do we change and adapt to the new knowledge and skills needed to succeed? We need the help of textbook authors to do this.

As pointed out by Jensen, once an incorrect or incomplete idea gets into a textbook, it is easily perpetuated. The majority of us who primarily teach do not have the time to keep up with cutting-edge research. We depend heavily on this Journal and textbook authors to help us fill the gaps in our knowledge and skills. There is nothing wrong with this. Over the broad spectrum of science, things change faster than anyone can adapt. Many have tried to help this situation by developing Web-based supplements that can be changed and more easily distributed. Also, there are always suggested laboratory activities in the Journal that can help us take what is available to us at present and give our students new abilities to bridge some of the gap. Why not use a major conference, like the upcoming ChemEd 2005, to begin a major “gap analysis” between where we are and where we need to be?

Upcoming Events

The International ChemEd Conferences started in Canada in 1973. ChemEd 2005, the 18th in the series, will be held in Vancouver, Canada, July 31–August 4, 2005 at the University of British Columbia. For more information see the cool and inviting home page (accessed Oct 2004). Proposals for presentations are due February 1, 2005. This biennial meeting is designed primarily for teachers of high school chemistry; every meeting thus far has exceeded its predecessors. More than 1000 chemistry teachers and their families are expected from every province in Canada, every state in the United States, and at least 50 countries from around the world. Hundreds of symposia and workshops will be offered. Start making plans, now!

Features Especially for You

The JCE Web site “Especially for High School Teachers” can get to some very useful features such as the new and improved Digital Library, the High School CLIC (Chemed Learning Information Center), and other online Journal items.

Have you ever wondered how articles get selected for publication in the Journal? Do you know that you have a wonderful idea and that others could benefit from your ideas? Why not take advantage of your winter break and submit your ideas to JCE. The instructions for contributing an article can be found online.