The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are the latest science education standards that are to help K-12 students become proficient in science by utilizing the three main components of NGSS: Discipline Core Ideas, Cross Cutting Concepts, and Scientific Practice. This work focuses on redesigning the traditional high school chemistry airbag activity, so it aligns with NGSS, while maintaining a level of comfort for educators. The airbag activity was modified to include engineering design which allows for the integration of engineering into the chemistry classroom which is a main goal of the NGSS. The traditional air bag labfacilitates the ideal gas law teaching in which students determine the amount of materials needed for a gas-producing reaction to inflate a sandwich bag. In the activity that incorporates engineering design, students think about how airbags work and define the criteria for the best airbag. Students proceed to build a model airbag by predict the best materials out of given options, determine amount of materials needed, and design their own experimental procedure. As students follow the engineering design phase, they test their model, collect and analyze data, and determine if their design satisfies their criteria. Based on their analysis, students then redesign their model and determine how to make a model airbag function in a “real-life” crash scenario. The Build and Test a Model Airbag activity was tested with undergraduates and a summer STEM camp that consisted of 13-15 year olds. A survey was given after each trial, 69% of students said it increased their understanding of engineering and 89% of the students recommended the activity for future classes. By changing the framing of traditional chemistry laboratory activities, we can both include engineering design into the curriculum and better engage students in important chemical principles.

Incorporating engineering design into the chemistry lab through an airbag design activity

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.