I have always enjoyed an active interest in all areas of science; in my teaching career I have taught Physics up to Year 10 and Chemistry to Year 8. Physics helps us to form a relationship with the physical world; our modern constructions, buildings, bridges, tunnels and dams could not have been built without the knowledge we gained over many years of working with basic physics. Technology as we know it today, could not exist without the advances made in science, particularly over the last twenty years. Having said that, it’s chemistry in its many forms that has captured my imagination even more. I find it so incredible when, for example, we take the lightest of all gases and combine it with the gas, without which we would all die, and there we create the most essential ingredient to life – water. Then there’s marble, such a hard stone that has been transformed from the much softer limestone. Under heat and pressure and over very many years, carbon can transform into diamonds! Wow, I love it! Everything is transformation that happens due to certain conditions and over a period of time.
Of course another form of chemistry is human chemistry. I want to briefly look here at the human chemistry that works and lives between people; not the actual internal chemistry – that would be a topic all on its own – another time perhaps. Human Chemistry, like that out in nature, is constantly changing – transforming, however the time factor is much shorter. How often do we hear people remark, “There’s quite a chemistry between them.” Which of course may mean that certain individuals are getting along splendidly, although it may also mean quite the opposite. Teachers have the opportunity to witness ‘human chemistry’ every day. A class of students is in itself a mixture, a mixture of the many individuals who, when placed together in a group situation will create its own ‘being’ or identity. In Stage 2 we are continually witnessing the changing nature of the group, particularly when new students join us and/or students leave. An ongoing challenge to our students is how to work when they are put into smaller groups; when groups of three or more students are put together and given tasks to fulfil. The individuals certainly come out then! There may be ‘heat’ and ‘pressure’, from which we know, transformation may be born. We are asking and expecting so much from these young students. It is hard, but as I like to say, “Be suspicious if it’s too easy.” There is so much to be gained in working through differences, in embracing and celebrating what each of us individually has to offer. Project Based Learning puts students into real life situations where, if the outcomes are to be successful, they will need to find the ‘how’ to work together and resolve their [chemical] differences.
Chemistry is Everything. It is a huge part of every day life, it creates, maintains and develops relationships which ultimately help us all to be better at what we do and with whom we do it.
Kind regards,
Rodney
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