The Teaching of Chemistry

* CS Chemistry trainee teachers with only ‘O’ or ‘A’ level in Chemistry and have not taken foundation modules in Chemistry at university level are required to offer these two enrichment modules in Chemistry. These modules comprise e-based lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and tests.

PCY511 The Teaching of Chemistry I

Basic concepts and principles in chemical education. Psychological principles crucial to the teaching and learning of chemistry. Issues related to the organisation and implementation of the science/chemistry curriculum. The integration of IT into the chemistry curriculum. The planning and teaching strategies crucial for the effective teaching of chemistry that includes unit and lesson planning, the inquiry approach, constructivist approach, problem-solving, expository teaching, demonstrations, practical work and project work. The preparation and use of teaching aids and resource materials.

PCY512 The Teaching of Chemistry II

Micro-teaching provides opportunities to identify and practise basic teaching skills such as opening and closing a lesson, explaining concepts, questioning and responding to pupils. Trainee teachers practise the relevant skills through mini-presentations on selected chemistry topics at the secondary level. Presentations by trainee teachers are reviewed and critiqued by peers and the tutor.

PCY513 The Teaching of Chemistry III

The effective evaluation of chemistry teaching and learning. Purposes of evaluation, tables of specifications, tests construction, administration, marking, and analysis; interpretation of test scores. Alternative assessment modes such as open-book tests, take-home examinations, concept mapping, assessment of attitudes and values, and in particular, the use of project work will be considered. The management of the Chemistry laboratory and laboratory safety will also be discussed.

PCY514 General and Inorganic Chemistry

The module comprises 15 e-based lectures, 2 tests (1.5 hours x 2), 2 tutorials (1.5 hours x 2) and 18 hours (3 hours x 6) of laboratory work.

This module provides the foundational knowledge and principles of general and inorganic chemistry. It is designed to equip teachers with adequate knowledge of general chemistry to understand and explain everyday phenomena. Topics covered include the building blocks of matter, their characteristics and properties leading to the understanding of their reactivities and behaviour. Redox reactions, half reactions, balancing redox equations and everyday applications of redox reactions, rusting, food preservation, anti-oxidants and biological process are also discussed.


PCY515 Physical and Organic Chemistry

The module comprises 15 e-based lectures, 2 tests (1.5 hours x 2), 2 tutorials (1.5 hours x 2) and 18 hours (3 hours x 6) of experimental work for Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

This module provides the foundational knowledge and principles of physical and organic chemistry. Topics covered include: kinetic theory of gases; thermochemistry; equilibrium chemical kinetics and electrochemistry; hydrocarbons and a few other selected classes of organic compounds such as alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids and polymer. The economic and environmental impact of petrochemicals is also discussed.