Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

From crazy chemists to engaged learners through education

As well as teaching students what we know, it is becoming increasingly important to teach them how we think. We must take a scientific approach to science education and experiment with teaching methods, including context-led work and media-rich resources, to foster active and independent student engagement.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_180662

  2. Public Perceptions of Chemistry, Qualitative Research, Management Report (Royal Society of Chemistry, 1995).

  3. Reid, N. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 9, 51–59 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Childs, P. E. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 10, 189–203 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Holman, J. & Hunt, A. Educ. Chem. 39, 12–14 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shwartz, Y., Ben-Zvi, R. & Hofstein, A. J. Chem. Educ. 83, 1557–1561 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schwartz, A. T. Int. J. Sci. Educ. 28, 977–998 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Parchmann, I. et al. Int. J. Sci. Educ. 28, 1041–1062 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pilot, A. & Bulte, A. M. W. Int. J. Sci. Educ. 28, 1087–1112 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. http://www.futuristspeaker.com/2011/01/curiosity-driven-education/

  11. Cam, A. & Geban, O. J. Sci. Educ. Technol. 20, 26–32 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. King, D., Bellocchi, A. & Ritchie, S. M. Res. Sci. Educ. 38, 365–384 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Demircioglu, H., Demircioglu, G. & Calik, M. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 10, 241–249 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Marks, R., Bertram, S. & Eilks, I. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 9, 267–276 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/News/PressReleases/2008/Number10Petition.asp

  16. http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/News/PressReleases/2010/Proposedexams.asp

  17. Talanquer, V. & Pollard, J. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 11, 74–83 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Overton, T. & Potter, N. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 9, 65–69 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Smith, D. K. J. Chem. Educ. 83, 1621–1624 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Oliver-Hoyo, M. T. & Allen, D. J. Chem. Educ. 82, 944–949 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gutwill-Wise, J. P. J. Chem. Educ. 78, 684–690 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kovac, J. J. Chem. Educ. 76, 120–124 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Public Attitudes to Science 2008 – A Survey (Research Councils UK, 2008).

  24. Nature Chem. 2, 599 (2010).

  25. Europeans, Science and Technology (European Commission, Special Eurobarometer 224, 2005).

  26. Mahaffy, P., Ashmore, A., Bucat, B., Do, C. & Rosborough, M. Pure Appl. Chem. 80, 161–174 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Burns, T. W., O'Connor, D. J. & Stocklmayer, S. M. Public Underst. Sci. 12, 183–202 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sella, A. Educ. Chem. 47, 64 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Smith, D. K. J. Chem. Educ. 82, 393–400 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Posocco, P., Pricl, S., Jones S. P., Barnard, A & Smith, D. K. Chem. Sci. 1, 393–404 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Jones, S. P., Gabrielson, N. P., Pack, D. W. & Smith, D. K. Chem. Commun. 4700–4702 (2008).

  32. http://www.youtube.com/periodicvideos

  33. http://www.youtube.com/professordaveatyork

  34. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJnr8b526o0

  35. Sood, A., Sarangi, S., Pandey, A. & Murugiah, K. Urology 77, 558–562 (2011).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Steinberg, P. L. et al. Urology 75, 619–622 (2010).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Duffy, P. in Proc. 6th European Conf. E-Learning (ed. Remenyi, D.) 173–182 (Academic Conferences, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Agazio, J. & Buckley, K. M. Nurse Educator 34, 23–28 (2009).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Haines, S. L. & van Amburgh, J. A. Am. J. Pharm. Ed. 74, 97 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. http://www.chemtube3d.com/

  41. http://www.chemspider.com/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David K. Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, D. From crazy chemists to engaged learners through education. Nature Chem 3, 681–684 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1091

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1091

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing