Course Description
Chemistry in the Community is a chemistry curriculum written by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Chemistry in the community enhances science literacy by emphasizing chemistry's impact on society. It is aimed at the student who will become a citizen but not necessarily a scientist in a technological society. Chemistry in the Community is a laboratory course designed for college bound students who do not plan to major in science or a science related field. Chemistry in the Comments designed to help students to realize the important role that chemistry will play in their personal and professional lives; to use principles of chemistry to think more intelligently about issues they will encounter that involve science and technology; to develop a lifelong awareness of the potential and limitations of science and technology; and to study environmental and social issues from a chemical point of view. The use of calculators is required. Chemistry in the Community will not provide the background needed for students who wish to take Advanced Placement Biology or Advanced Placement Chemistry. Chemistry in the Community is a year-long course that introduces high-school students to chemistry. Each of Chemistry in the Community seven units centers on a chemistry-related societal issue that serves as the basis for introducing the chemistry needed to understand and analyze the problem. Chemistry in the Community takes a different approach to the learning of chemistry. Each of the seven units revolves around a societal question. This question creates a need to know chemistry to find a solution. The context of each question is a community: local, workplace, national,or global. The chemistry presented to the students builds upon the same vocabulary, thinking skills, problem solving and lab techniques as most traditional introductory chemistry courses. However in Chemistry in the Community the student is lead to integrate what they have learned to see how it addresses issues in the real world. This is accomplished through many decision making activities that are a part of the course. It is the long term goal of the curriculum to present to the students the need and the skills to acquire technical knowledge to make intelligent decisions for themselves and for the communities in which they belong. Chemistry in the Community is a student-centered, activity based, issues-orientated chemistry curriculum that encourages small group learning. Chemistry in the Community stresses societal issues. The issues include some or all of the following: supplying clean air and water; conserving chemical resources; utilizing petroleum as both a fuel and a chemical feed stock, and feeding the world. |