Do your students know their \u201carithmetic facts\u201d perfectly, without hesitation? Is it important that they do?<\/p>\n
In our text Calculations In Chemistry<\/em>, we included a review of math and algebra fundamentals — just before they were needed for chemistry topics. Working initially with students in engineering chemistry, compared to past semesters, success was pretty spectacular. But in subsequent experiments with \u201cmostly bio-major\u201d general chem and \u201cprep for general chem,\u201d though averages improved notably, more students struggled with quantitative problems than we thought should.<\/p>\n Our diagnostic testing found that strugglers tended to have trouble doing simple math \u201cin their heads.\u201d\u00a0 Searching the academic literature, we found:<\/p>\n For students lacking math automaticity, cognitive research suggested that strengthening mental math would help more students succeed in courses in the quantitative sciences.<\/p>\n To assess and sharpen mental math at the start of chemistry:<\/p>\n (click and check your PDF downloads).<\/p>\n Researchers say that if during a course, students are given a mix<\/em> of calculator and \u201cno calculator\u201d problems that keep their mental math sharp, they will better understand quantitative examples and proportional reasoning.<\/p>\n In different populations, skills will vary, but the 15-minute quiz should tell you quickly which individual students will benefit from \u201cMental Math\u201d homework.<\/p>\n #\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0 #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do your students know their \u201carithmetic facts\u201d perfectly, without hesitation? Is it important that they do? In our text Calculations In Chemistry, we included a review of math and algebra fundamentals — just before they were needed for chemistry topics.… <\/p>\n\n
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