Teachers Network
Translate Translate English to Chinese Translate English to French
  Translate English to German Translate English to Italian Translate English to Japan
  Translate English to Korean Russian Translate English to Spanish
Lesson Plan Search
Our Lesson Plans
TeachNet Curriculum Units
Classroom Specials
Popular Teacher Designed Activities
TeachNet NYC Directory of Lesson Plans TeachNet NYC Dirctory of Lesson Plans

VIDEOS FOR TEACHERS
RESOURCES
Teachers Network Leadership Institute
How-To Articles
Videos About Teaching
Effective Teachers Website
Lesson Plans
TeachNet Curriculum Units
Classroom Specials
Teacher Research
For NYC Teachers
For New Teachers
HOW-TO ARTICLES
TEACHER RESEARCH
LINKS

GRANT WINNERS
TeachNet Grant:
Lesson Plans
2010
TeachNet Grant Winners
2009
TeachNet Grant Winners
Adaptor Grant Winners
2008
TeachNet Grant Winners
Adaptor Grant Winners
2007
TeachNet Grant Winners
Adaptor Grant Winners
Other Grant Winners
Power-to-Learn
Math and Science Learning
Ready-Set-Tech
Impact II
Grant Resources
Grant How-To's
Free Resources for Teachers
ABOUT
Our Mission
Funders
   Pacesetters
   Benefactors
   Donors
   Sponsors
   Contributors
   Friends
Press
   Articles
   Press Releases
Awards
   Cine
   Silver Reel
   2002 Educational Publishers Award

Sitemap

TNLI: Action Research: Curriculum Implementation: Chemistry in Art: Learning to Understand

 

Research Summary

Question     

Student understanding of chemical concepts is difficult to gauge.  However, if you tie it into objective tests and test through a specific curriculum, you might be able to determine how much a student understands.

Rationale for Study

I have been teaching at Flushing High School since September 2001.  Starting with my first Regent’s examination in June 2002, the school has seen a drastic drop in the percentage of students passing the Regents examination.  My study focused on one possible reason for the decline:  Teachers may need new connections with their students over the course curriculum.

Background/Context

Flushing High School is a 2800-student public high school located in Flushing, Queens.  The student body is extremely diverse with the majority of students classified as Hispanic and a growing number of Asian students predominating.  Approximately 200 students are enrolled in seven Chemistry classes.  Last year, about 28 percent of the 169 Chemistry students who took the Regents examination passed the test; this figure was up from 23 percent of the 343 Chemistry students passed the Regents.

My chemistry class contains 28 students, all classified as English Language Learners.  They are mostly Asian-Americans with a range of capabilities in understanding English.

Flushing High School also offers 12 classes in art instruction for the general student body.  Art is considered an elective and is not assessed with a statewide Regents examination.

Research
           
“Art in Chemistry; Chemistry in Art,” by Barbara Greenberg and Diane Patterson, formed the main inspiration for this project.  Much of the year’s planned curriculum was based on lesson plans and suggestions provided by Greenberg and Patterson.

“Understanding by Design,” by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, helped me put together a rubric for assessing the students’ understanding of the chemical concepts.
                       
Tools

I relied mainly on regular tests (both in-class and take-home examinations) to maintain a close observation on the levels of understanding exhibited by each student.  I also maintained a rubric that was meant to assess the degree of understanding the material into their curriculum.  I made general observations of grade and attendance figures from last year to this school year.  These general observations were for insight and direction, not statistical proof.

Data Collection

I originally planned to adopt an altered version of the art/chemistry connected curriculum I had reported on last year.  The curriculum consisted of 20 experiments and projects covering eight state standards topics in Chemistry.  I also planned selected laboratory exercises and a display of artwork in the school library.              Almost from the start I learned about my students processed information differently than what I expected.  They seemed to develop understandings about chemistry based on how their individual backgrounds and experience.  It seemed that no matter how I presented the information, the students made conscious decisions on how much they were going to learn.  It was difficult to understand this at first, but much of how much they learned came from connections they formed with previously understood concepts.   In private discussions I found their understanding of chemistry painted by what they learned before high school.


The students generally liked the art projects and their connections with the science.   Motivation remained high throughout the year. The art projects kept many students coming to class.  I noted a general decrease in the number of cuts and absences as compared to a year ago.

Analysis
 
In reviewing the year, I formulated five points for teachers attempting an integrated curriculum:

  1. To develop understanding by integrating different subjects within one curriculum, teachers must understand that they risk confusing students with  information., but you also must deal with previously accepted concepts from the students’ past grades.
  2. As a result of past understandings, teachers may find a variety of lessons working against their goals because they do not “fit” the way that students want to understand. 
  3. There are times when innovation may cause more confusion and anxiety than traditional methods in reaching students.  Merely repeating back prepared answers to specific questions is not what teachers want when they try innovations.  However, this might be all that students expect from their lessons and may resist any changes to their expectations.

 

Policy Recommendations

  1. Teachers must understand traditional teaching methods and curriculum before administrators give them permission to begin an Integrated curriculum.  This also applies to team teaching.  Both teachers should know traditional learning methods before they innovate.
  2. As much as possible, teachers should understand how much their students understand their subject before entering their classroom for the first time.  There is no such thing as an”empty vessel” that we fill with knowledge.  Administrators must insist that teachers demonstrate understanding of their students’ needs before attempting innovations to traditional methods. 
  3. Teachers must maintain an awareness of which topic fits the needs and agenda of their students.  What the teachers want may not be exactly what the students expect when they start a course.

 

           


James Kopchains
j.kopchains@lycos.com

Research Focus:
Chemistry, Art

TNLI Affiliate:
New York City

School:
HS 460
   Flushing High School
Flushing, NY

If you would like to learn more about Teachers Network Leadership Institute, please e-mail Kimberly Johnson for more information.

 

 

Come across an outdated link?
Please visit The Wayback Machine to find what you are looking for.

 

Journey Back to the Great Before