Systemic Thinking Approach to Teaching and

learning Chemistry[STATLC]

ByDr. Kamel A.M

Professor of physiological psychology 

Tanta UniversityTanta – Egypt

22 ICCE -11 ECRICE Rome July 2012

The core objectives of chemistry as a science

Is to study the matter and energy, its reactions and interactions, its structure and behavior, its positive and negative impact on our environment.

Although any human brain works systemically, the brain of chemists should be working super systemically due to the nature of chemistry as a central science related systemically to other sciences, and to our daily life in which everything is systemic

The Brain Works According to Principles of systemic thinking

Spery (1962) presented his model of information processing of the two-hemisphere where he pointed out that:

• The left hemisphere: Is Aristotelian analytical, digital, logical, relational and verbal, sequential.

• The right hemisphere: Is platonic non-verbal, visual, spatial and intuitive, simultaneous.

Both hemispheres works together according to the systemic holistic brain functions.

The Brain of Chemist Works Systemically

The integration of the two-hemispheres of The integration of the two-hemispheres of the brainthe brain

What is Systemic Thinking (ST) ?  (ST) is the main cognitive function of the brain which occurs through three interactive dimensions:

 1- Synthetic thinking – studying the role and purpose of a system and its elements to understand why they behave as they do.E.g. Teaching the periodic table of elements as a super system. 2- Dynamic Thinking – examining how the system and its parts or elements behave over time.

Eg.Teaching the chemical kinetics3-Closed – Loop Thinking -- investigating how the elements of a system react and interact with each other and external factors or conditions.Eg. Teaching the chemical reactions between atoms or molecules under certain reaction conditions.

Dimensions of Systemic Thinking

Brain atwater & Paul H pittman(2006)

J.Brain atwater & Paul H pittman (2006). Facilating systemic thinking in business classes. Decision sciences journal of

innovative , V4, No.2.

Causal Loop Modeling

Electro negativity

Amphoteric property

Metallic property

Non-metallic property

Ionization energy

Electron affinity

Basic property

Acidic property

Atomic radius

By increasing atomic

number within the periods

3 5

7

1114

9

8

12

16

15

1820

1

2

10

1719

13 4

6

The oxidation number for

element in its oxide

21

22 23

Systemic Diagram (SD1 - P) for the periodicity of

The Properties for the elements within periods

in systemic periods the graduation in the properties are studied systemically starting from any element in the period to any other element as shown in the systemic diagram [SD2].

SD2: Systemic period (2) lt shows increasing or decreasing in the

given property on moving from one element to another through the systemic period.

N

Be

B

CO

F

Ne?

?

?

??

?

?

? Li

???

LINEAR AND SYSTEMIC PERIODS

In the periodic table the graduation in properties are studied in a linear method from left to right increasing or decreasing.e.g.: In period (2) The linear graduation of the properties in the second period starting from lithium to Neon increasing or decreasing. Li Be B C N O F Ne

Linear Period (2)

N+31

Be+66

B-29

C-121

O-142

F-332

Ne+99

iiincreases

s

Li-58.5

increases

sees

increaseses

increases

increases

increaseses

increaseses

decreases

decreases

decreaseses

decreaseses

SD3 :Periodicity of electron affinity in systemic period (2)

  In the case of systemic approach the relation takes place between any two elements from the point of electron affinity as shown in SD3

Quantum Numbers

• STATLC improve the students ability to view the chemistry SUBJECT from a more global perspective.

STATLC helps the students to develop their own mental framework at higher-level cognitive processes such as application, analysis, and synthesis.

STATLC Increases the ability of students to think SYSTEMICALLY IN SOLVING THEIE DAILY PROBLEMS.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION