TSP 6033 : ICT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

Group members : Noor Aini binti Abdul Majid

Yvonne Kulandaisamy

Assignment 3 :

SIMULATION AS A TOOL FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND

LEARNING

TOPIC :

Exothermic and Endothermic reactions.

Reflection before : Chemistry concepts are hard to grasp and visualize because
students always find them very abstract. In this lesson, the use of simulation and
daily life’s examples is hoped to help students relate their experiences to the
teaching and learning. Hence, students can have better understanding of the
subject matter.

Objectives : At the end of the lesson, students should be able to :

a) Define exothermic and endothermic reactions.

b) Define activation energy.
c) Explain the bond dissociation and bond formation processes along the
reaction pathway.
d) Sketch the energy profile diagram for exothermic and endothermic
reactions.

Prerequisite : Knowledge of chemical equations, sufficient to allow students to

relate equations to type of reactions.

Materials :

a) Computers with internet access.

b) Webpage :
http://schools.matter.org.uk/Content/Reactions/BondActivation.html

Stage Steps

ENGAGE 1) Teacher displays photographs of flame and ice cubes.

 2) Teacher asks probing questions about the above photographs.

Question : What is the difference between ice and flame?

Probable answer : Flame –hot, ice – cold.

Question : Have you ever wondered why these happens?

3) Teacher explains that these are examples of chemical reactions

that are classified as endothermic and exothermic reactions,

EMPOWER 1) To promote student-centered learning, teacher instructs

students to access the given url
(http://schools.matter.org.uk/Content/Reactions/BondActivation.
html)

2) Teacher asks and guide students to read through the page to

get the definition of :
• exothermic reaction
• endothermic reaction
 • activation energy
3) Exothermic reaction
Teacher instructs students to move the slider forward to watch
the formation and dissociation of bonds. The simulation also
shows the energy changes including the activation energy along
the reaction path.

Repeat for endothermic reaction.

4) Teacher asks students to go to the next page and try exercise

questions to check on their understandings. The students have
to drag the answers to label the given energy profile diagram.
5) Teacher asks student to check their score by pressing the
‘Score’ button whenever they finish.
ENHANCE Have you ever wondered why volcanoes’ eruptions are so vigorous?

If the magma contains water and dissolved gasses, when

the magma reaches the surface the water and dissolved
gasses will suddenly expand into steam and gas, causing
a violent eruption which is very EXOTHERMIC.
Students can get the same effect by shaking a coke can and then
popping the tab.

Reflection after: The lesson has been interesting. Students enjoyed the lesson
because of the use of simulation which allowed them to have ‘hands-on’
experience, which caters for the students with audio-visual and kinesthetic
intelligence. Students were able to learn at their own pace, in which they can
access the website anytime and anyplace for revision.