Main photo: A group of students demonstrates a small-scale chemistry activity.
Practical work and experimental activities in laboratories are often just as instrumental in the teaching and learning process of chemistry as theoretical knowledge.
A lack of hands-on experience in science classes can lead to misalignment between theory and practice and impede students’ ability to explore.
To support chemistry education, the Chemical Society of Thailand under the Patronage of Professor Dr HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak has worked hand in hand with Dow Thailand Group to launch www.DowChemistryClassroom.com.
This science-oriented website offers many resources for chemistry topics using the principle of small-scale lab experiments, fun and amazing facts, and chemical reactions that will spark learners’ passion for science.
The site also provides access to the most updated news and activities including workshops and training sessions for learners and teachers seeking to improve their practical skills.
Dow Thailand president Chatchai Luanpolcharoenchai said the company is committed to inspiring science education, particularly chemistry, which he describes as the backbone of the nation’s growth and development.
“Hands-on chemistry activities can stimulate curiosity. Curious students ask questions, observe, experiment and actively seek out the answers – which are key to scientific learning. We work with our alliances to provide tools and training. We hope that they can make science education more effective and fun and above all more inspiring for today’s students, the citizens of tomorrow,” he said.
The site is part of the Dow Chemistry Classroom project initiated in 2013.
It aims to break down the barriers to chemistry education by adopting a practice-oriented approach, while increasing learning and teaching opportunities for both teachers and students across Thailand, particularly those living in remote areas where there are few if any lab classrooms or opportunities to experiment.
Backed by the Office of Education Commission, this collaborative effort is also intended to upgrade the quality of education in chemistry in Thailand through the ‘small-scale chemistry laboratory’ technique, which delivers hands-on learning experiences to remote students, improving understanding of the scientific concepts and making them fun.
Under the project, small-scale chemistry experiment workshops and training sessions are also arranged periodically to train teachers and students in the use of the kits designed for them.
Photo: Small-scale laboratory kits
Student science project competitions are organized to promote micro-scale experiments and motivate them to put in their best efforts.
Effective, safe and environmentally-friendly
The small-scale chemistry laboratory technique is carried out on a reduced scale, often with small, inexpensive, easy equipment and locally available materials to perform experiments. The method can provide clearly visible results.
Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this modern approach uses fewer chemicals, helping to reduce costs, waste and risks compared to the traditional way of conducting experiments.
As such, it makes practical work more sustainable and less harmful to the environment. Simply put, the microscale experiments help overcome concerns about laboratory costs, safety and environmental pollution.
The small-scale chemistry laboratory technique is widely adopted by schools in many countries including the UK, Germany, Japan, Austria, Mexico and China.
An inspiring tool for chemistry education
The Dow chemistry classroom website features four main menus – Small-Scale Lab, Chemistry is Fun, News and Activities, and Useful Links. ‘Small-Scale Lab’ outlines the principle and benefits of the technique that uses minimum equipment with obvious results.
It also offers science experiment ideas students can do in classrooms and at home using simple ingredients from around the house like baking soda, white vinegar, corn flour and iodine tincture.
It also features a list of the role-model teachers who are trained in the micro-scale chemistry experiments.
‘Chemistry is Fun’ incorporates articles about the wonders of chemistry in a fun way. It comes with some amazing facts that will blow your mind and awesome explanations.
Here you can explore why people believe in pseudoscience that claims to be scientific or rooted in fact but has no scientific evidence to back it up, for example, a claim that lemons or lemon juice can cure cancer, and how the recipe you prepare involves chemical reactions that turn ingredients into a tasteful dish.
Visitors can also check out some of the most up-to-date news and events including small-scale lab training programs both in person and online, science project competitions and awards from the site.
There are also useful links, for example, links to websites that sell lab equipment and supplies; links to scholarship sites that give students and families access to free university, financial aid information and scholarship opportunities.
Photo: Micro-scale chemistry experiment is performed on a reduced scale, with small, inexpensive and easy-to-use equipment. It’s effective, safe and environmentally friendly
In simple terms, the Dow chemistry classroom website is a useful resource that can be used to support teaching and learning and make chemistry fun and easy to understand. It’s perfect for teachers and high-school students.
What visitors have to say about the site
Visitors express positive response toward the site. They also offer suggestions and ideas to improve it, making the site the best tool in chemistry education possible.
Nutthita Siritharametheekul, 41, a chemistry teacher at Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School in Bangkok who is trained in the micro-scale experiments often uses the method in her classes to illustrate key chemical principles and reactions.
“The approach helps promote active learning. It increases class interactions and makes teaching and learning more interesting and fun,” she said, adding that it provides an alternative approach to teachers who want to deliver hands-on learning activities to students.
The site is a versatile platform, Nutthita noted. In addition to education, it comes with links to lab supplies and scholarship opportunities, which can be great resource not only for teachers and students but also parents who are looking for scholarships to finance their child’s education.
The teacher recommends providing the experimental results of chemical concepts on the site as well as worksheets and tables that can be used to record the results for effective application.
“It would be great to use infographics and animations to convey the micro-scale experiments. They can make them more understandable and visually pleasing, and thus encourage learners to look at them,” she said.
Nutthita suggested adding a ‘career in chemistry’ topic on the site, which can help inspire students to get into chemistry.
For example, interviews with successful persons in the field on how their expertise led them to work with a leading company and their journey to becoming successful can empower students on their educational journey.
“I believe it can be a great source of inspiration,” she said adding that studying chemistry can lead to a rewarding career with high earning potential, diverse opportunities and job security.
Student Naphat Chanithanun, 17, says the site inspired him to do some fun experiments at home.
“Chemistry isn’t just done in a lab. I did some experiments at home using ingredients I found in the kitchen and everyday materials. I saw the reactions. They are easy and fun,” he said.
Weeraphat Uttapong, a 17-year-old student, says articles on the site particularly on PM2.5 and explosion at fireworks factory, have made him aware of the negative impacts of the events on human health and the environment and how to ward them off.
“The site is cool. Content is very relevant. I’ve come to realize that we come across chemicals all the time. The learning tips are very useful and I get better at chemistry every day,” he said.
Kritdanai Subsiri, 17, suggests adding educational chemistry games and fun learning games, which can motivate learners while enabling them to revise their chemistry.
