Course Identification

This advanced graduate-level course is designed for in-service chemistry teachers and focuses on contemporary issues in chemistry education through guided reading and discussion of research articles. The course introduces participants to recent studies published in peer-reviewed journals, aiming to deepen their understanding of key topics in the field and support the development of evidence-based teaching practices.

The selected readings (in English) address a variety of themes, including:

• Chemical literacy

• Conceptual understanding in chemistry

• Higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) and competancies 

• Inquiry-based teaching and learning

• Student motivation and engagement

• Integration of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in chemistry education

• Leadership in science education

The reading materials are in English

Upon successful completion of the course- students should be able to:

1. Develop critical reading and analytical skills for evaluating educational research literature.

2. Reflect on implications of research findings for one's own teaching practice.

3. Foster professional dialogue and collaboration through structured academic discussions.

4. Promote evidence-based teaching practices by translating research insights into actionable strategies.

5. Gain familiarity with diverse research methodologies used in chemistry education.

Ben-Zvi, R., Eylon, B.-S., & Silberstein, J. (1986). Is an atom of copper malleable? Journal of Chemical Education, 63(1), 64. doi:10.1021/ed063p64

Blonder, R., & Rap, S. (2013). It's a small world after all: A nanotechnology activity in a science festival. Journal of Nano Education, 4, 47-56. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jne.2012.1029

Katchevich, D., Hofstein, A., & Mamlok-Naaman, R. (2013). Argumentation in the chemistry laboratory: Inquiry and confirmatory experiments. Reseasrch in Science Education, 43, 317–345. doi:10.1007/s11165-011-9267-9

Blonder, R., Jonatan, M., Bar-Dov, Z., Benny, N., Rap, S., & Sakhnini, S. (2013). Can You Tube it? Providing chemistry teachers with technological tools and enhancing their efficacy beliefs. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 14, 269-285. doi:10.1039/c3rp00001j

Jones, M. G., Taylor, A., Minogue, J., Broadwell, B., Wiebe, E., & Carter, G. (2007). Understanding scale: Powers of ten. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16(2), 191-202. doi:10.1007/s10956-006-9034-2

Additional  research papers will be chosen by the students and will be included in the course.