Web 2.

0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

Lesson Idea Name: Molecular Structure Mid-Unit Introduction
Grade Level/Content Area: Chemistry

Content Standard Addressed: SC2f

Develop and use bonding models to predict chemical formulas including ionic (binary and ternary), acidic, and
inorganic covalent compounds.

ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and be
able to do by the end of this lesson: 
Knowledge Constructor - 1.3.a Students plan and Use knowledge of electron repulsion to predict the
employ effective research strategies to locate shape of simple covalently bonded molecules.
information and other resources for their intellectual or  
creative pursuits.

What is the student learning goal(s) for this lesson idea? 

The intended outcome of the lesson is to get students comfortable visualizing molecular shapes.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

The included lab simulations help students understand the electrostatic behavior that leads to
molecular geometry, and the included VSEPR chart and assignment allow students to apply that
understanding to a molecule of their choice.

How do you plan to implement this lesson and integrate the technology? Check all that apply: 
 
x Teacher-led: There is no student voice and choice in the activities. Students are guided by
teacher direction and expectations. Learning activities are assigned to the
student and mostly practice based. 
    
x Student-Led: Students are given voice and choice in the activities. They may select the topic
of learning and/or determine the tool they will use to meet the learning goal. The
teacher facilitates the learning as the students direct their own learning processes. 
 
☐ Problem-based and/or Publishable: Students are solving problems
and completing projects to demonstrate their learning. Additionally, the projects can be shared
outside of the classroom. (Note: This objective could be reached by displaying the project on the
school’s morning newscast, posting the project to the classroom blog, presenting it to another
class, or publishing via an outside source.) 

Lesson idea implementation:

Frazier, 2021
 Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration
The Wakelet serves as the lesson, essentially, and the teacher will monitor student progress and
field student questions through the lesson. Students will be given class time to explore the videos
and simulations of the Wakelet. The earlier activities in the Wakelet should serve as some review as
well as introducing some new ideas. They will respond to the Wakelet prompts which will serve as
an informal formative assessment where the teacher can provide feedback to the students.

Managing student learning:

Movement and pacing through the lesson will be largely student-driven and teacher-monitored,
giving students a chance to learn to pace themselves through their learning. They will have one class
period and two days of their own, out of-class time to complete the activity, so they will have to
pace themselves through the activity and use their time efficiently. The activity also involves
interaction between students in the form of comment and critique on each other’s responses, which
is a good way to get students interacting, specifically giving more shy students that may be less likely
to speak up in small group settings a chance to interact with their peers’ ideas.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
Throughout the lesson students are pacing themselves, and they have an opportunity to choose
their molecule and its representation, giving them a sense of ownership over the project. The
leading videos help explain the content in different ways, and the Phet labs are interactive to keep
students engaged and interested as they move towards the modeling mini-project at the end of the
lesson.

Reflective Practice:
I think this tool helps teachers operate better in a time where in-class learning can potentially
become distance learning. The lesson does benefit from in-person teacher oversight, but in the
absence of that opportunity, the Wakelet could be adapted into a platform for students to post their
questions while they move through the activities so all students can benefit from questions. Ignoring
the possibility of distance learning, the lesson allows students to practice being independent
learners in the classroom and in their own homes, which will be a valuable skill for them in college
and the workforce.

Frazier, 2021