Chemistry education

Chemistry education is an active area of research within both the disciplines of chemistry and education, focusing on learning and teaching of chemistry in schools, colleges and universities, with the goals of understanding how students learn chemistry, how best to teach chemistry, and how to improve learning outcomes by changing teaching methods and appropriate training of chemistry instructors, within many modes, including classroom lecture, demonstrations, and laboratory activities. There is a constant need to update the skills of teachers engaged in teaching chemistry.

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Many national chemical societies, including the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, have Chemical Education as one of their divisions or sections.

Chemical Education Research

Chemical Education research is typically carried out in situ using human subjects from secondary and post-secondary schools. Chemical education research utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Quantitative methods typically involve using self report instruments utilizing Likert scale items. These data can then be analyzed using various statistical methods. Qualitative methods include interviews, observations, journaling, and other methods common to social science research.

Research is usually presented in peer-reviewed education journals and through various educational conferences, including the chemical education specific, Biennial Conference on Chemical Education [1] [2].

Journals of Chemical Education

There are many journals of chemical education, although most have a limited circulation in one country. Some concentrate on chemistry at different education levels (schools vs. universities) while others cover all education levels. Some of the most prominent are:

• Australian Journal of Education in Chemistry (journal home)

Published by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and covering both School and University education.

• Chemistry Education Research and Practice (journal home)

Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry with an emphasis on University education.

• Education in Chemistry (journal home))

Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry with a covereage of all areas of chemical education.

• Journal of Chemical Education (journal home)

Published by the American Chemical Society and covering both School and University education.

• List of scientific journals in chemistry may have others before they are listed here.
• Much research in chemistry education is also published in journals in the wider science education field.

Such journals include Science Education, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Research in Science Education, and the International Journal of Science Education.

Microscale chemistry is an approach to teaching chemistry starting by experimentation with low-cost materials using chemical substances in the quantities of a gram or less.