A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change

Science is sometimes seen as contained in a little box on its own, separate from the rest of the world. The questions underpinning this thesis set in train thoughts about investigating the chosen topic, the teaching and learning of physical and chemical change, using a very wide range of methodologi...

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Main Author: Palmer, William Pitt
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Curtin University 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2634
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author Palmer, William Pitt
author_facet Palmer, William Pitt
author_sort Palmer, William Pitt
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Science is sometimes seen as contained in a little box on its own, separate from the rest of the world. The questions underpinning this thesis set in train thoughts about investigating the chosen topic, the teaching and learning of physical and chemical change, using a very wide range of methodologies. The perspective is of someone involved in the teaching of the physical sciences for more than 40 years. The topic still remains contentious in teaching chemistry.The thesis sets out the evidence for and against the teaching of physical and chemical change and tracks the historical origins of the concept, its changing definitions and the research relating to the concept of physical and chemical change. A number of historically based textbook case studies are presented, some of which the author considers to be pioneering. The study ends with consideration of the public understanding of science, wondering whether the concept of physical and chemical change can be helpful in this respect.The conclusions reached are not in themselves remarkable, expressing a belief, that overall the concept of physical and chemical change is of benefit to the chemical community and perhaps to the wider public.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-26342017-02-20T06:37:17Z A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change Palmer, William Pitt chemistry chemical processes science textbooks science education Science is sometimes seen as contained in a little box on its own, separate from the rest of the world. The questions underpinning this thesis set in train thoughts about investigating the chosen topic, the teaching and learning of physical and chemical change, using a very wide range of methodologies. The perspective is of someone involved in the teaching of the physical sciences for more than 40 years. The topic still remains contentious in teaching chemistry.The thesis sets out the evidence for and against the teaching of physical and chemical change and tracks the historical origins of the concept, its changing definitions and the research relating to the concept of physical and chemical change. A number of historically based textbook case studies are presented, some of which the author considers to be pioneering. The study ends with consideration of the public understanding of science, wondering whether the concept of physical and chemical change can be helpful in this respect.The conclusions reached are not in themselves remarkable, expressing a belief, that overall the concept of physical and chemical change is of benefit to the chemical community and perhaps to the wider public. 2003 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2634 en Curtin University fulltext
spellingShingle chemistry
chemical processes
science textbooks
science education
Palmer, William Pitt
A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title_full A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title_fullStr A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title_full_unstemmed A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title_short A study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
title_sort study of teaching and learning about the paradoxical concept of physical and chemical change
topic chemistry
chemical processes
science textbooks
science education
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2634