Flash animations to teach chemistry
Gordon Watson is a Chemistry teacher at Kelso High School in the Borders. He is working with his S4 Chemistry class on what he calls the redox topic.
He is using ICT to revise earlier work carried out in S3 on electron transfer, ionic bonding and the concepts of oxidation and reduction in the context of reactions of metals. During this revision it has become apparent that the pupils require a greater understanding of the first principles of chemistry such as atomic structure, electron arrangement, and so on. These are traditionally difficult concepts and, because of their abstract nature, make great demands on the pupils’ ability to accept and visualise our model of the atom.
Mr Watson has a strong interest in using Flash and feels that this is an ideal opportunity to use Macromedia Flash animations to help pupils gain a greater knowledge and understanding.