Introducing " Household Chemistry" for advanced level chemistry syllabus
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Date
2008
Authors
Kumar, K. D. B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Chemistry is considered universally as an important subject in school curriculum. Everybody needs a sufficient knowledge of chemistry to function effectively in present day society. In Sri Lankan Advanced Level (A/L) curriculum, chemistry is one of the major subjects that a student follows. It is considered as a compulsorily subject for students in physical and bioscience streams. Although the facts, patterns and principals of chemistry were broadly discussed in present A/L syllabus, there was a deficiency in discussing domestic applications related to chemistry. As a result students knowledge of the chemicals used in their daily lives was not sufficient. This research was done with the intension of introducing — household chemistry as a new unit or sub unit in the A/L chemistry syllabus. The main objectives of this research were to make connections between the subject knowledge and the real world and to make students interested in chemistry. To achieve the objectives following methodology was used. First a diagnosis test was administered to identify the knowledge of students’ regarding the household chemistry. Consecutively a questionnaire was used to check the attitudes of teacher regarding the proposed unit. Referring to the A/L syllabus of other countries to identified related topics. Discussions with resource persons were done to identify the scope of subject content to be included in proposed unit. Subject matters in proposed unit were compiled after analyzing the results of diagnosis test, questionnaire and discussion with resource persons and reference in foreign syllabi. The results of diagnosis test proved deficiency in knowledge of A/L students regarding household chemistry. With reference to analysis of questionnaire given to teachers it was revealed that they strongly agreed for inclusion of proposed unit into A/L chemistry syllabus. | According to research the following subject matters were identified to be included in the A/L syllabus. Chemicals in food, chemistry of some important pharmaceuticals, chemistry of cleaning agent, chemistry of cosmetics and chemistry of paints will be used as the contents in the proposed unit. . Chemistry can be made an interesting subject for students by realizing them on application of chemistry in their real life situations.
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Keywords
Science education , Household chemistry , Advanced Level syllabus