What's UR Rxn? A chemistry blog project

jwinter@dcds.edu @OChemPrep @Whats_UR_Rxn #BCCE2014

What’s UR Rxn? Blog Project

Julia Winter

Detroit Country Day School

Why teach writing in science?

Why teach writing in chemistry?

The assignment

Write a blog post about chemistry that is:

The assignment

Write a blog post about chemistry that is:

• Current, thoughtful, creative, entertaining, and well-written

The assignment

Write a blog post about chemistry that is:

• Current, thoughtful, creative, entertaining, and well-written

• Use primary sources, if available

The assignment

Write a blog post about chemistry that is:

• Current, thoughtful, creative, entertaining, and well-written

• Use primary sources, if available

• Include copyright-free images

The assignment

Write a blog post about chemistry that is:

• Current, thoughtful, creative, entertaining, and well-written

• Use primary sources, if available

• Include copyright-free images

• Add an avatar and description of yourself

Timeline

Buzz!

Timeline

Buzz!

Discovery Day

Everyone chooses

a topic

Timeline

Buzz!

Discovery Day

Everyone chooses

a topic

1 week

Rough drafts due

Peer edits in class

Timeline

Buzz!

Discovery Day

Everyone chooses

a topic

1 week 1 week

Rough drafts due

Peer edits in class

Final drafts due

Let the grading

commence!

Publish!

Student input incorporated

“This sentence that you're currently reading, which is not really necessary and a bit of a run-on, restates exactly what I just said about adding a sentence to increase the length of one's writing through superfluous words, when actually it doesn't serve a useful purpose,…”

Completely cloud-based

Use a peer-edit process

[This paragraph is definitely more complicated and confusing than the previous paragraph. I would suggest simplifying the process more so normal people who don’t have too thorough of an understanding of chemistry can follow along.] (underline mine)

The DCDS Yellowjacket

The DCDS Chem Bee

Blog background, take 1

Blog background, much better

Finished blog design

“With a knack for relating chemistry in a

clear and engaging way these self-

identified ‘chemjournalists’ are the ones to watch.”

The ScepticalChymist, Tien Nguyen, guest

blogger

What’s UR Rxn?

•Structure assignments with student input

What’s UR Rxn?

•Structure assignments with student input

•Craft opportunities to write in new voices

What’s UR Rxn?

•Structure assignments with student input

•Craft opportunities to write in new voices

•Allow for creativity: writing and visual design

What’s UR Rxn?

•Structure assignments with student input

•Craft opportunities to write in new voices

•Allow for creativity: writing and visual design

•Publish their work to the world

What’s UR Rxn?

•Structure assignments with student input

•Craft opportunities to write in new voices

•Allow for creativity: writing and visual design

•Publish their work to the world

•Share with other teachers

Thanks to my DCDS students!

Contact information

Class blog: whatsurrxn.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Whats_UR_rxn

Julia’s blog: OChemPrep.blogspot.com

Twitter: @OChemPrep

Email: jwinter@dcds.edu