Chemistry, Number 5/2011, Volume 20

2011 – International Year of Chemistry

History of the Union of Bulgarian Chemists. IV. Years of Maturity and Shocks (1935-1943) – Selected Documents

Absract. This article describes through appropriate documents the activity of the Union of the Bulgarian Chemists during the years 1935-1943. Eight Union’s congresses were held in this period. Professor Assen Zlatarov died in 1936. King Boris III died in 1943. The Foundation „Chemist“ was established by the generous donor Ivan Tomov, a member of the Union (1940). The Union announced the month of May as a Month of Chemistry (1943).
Keywords: Union of the Bulgarian Chemists, history, annual congresses, Ivan
Tomov, month of chemistry

N. Naydenov

2011 – International Year of Chemistry

Meetings with Nobel Laureates in Chemistry

Absract. In this article, Academician Dimitar Klisurski narrates about his professional contacts with famous chemists – laureates of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Jaroslav
Heyrovski, Giulio Natta, Ronald Norrish, George Porter, Linus Pauling and Gerhard Ertl.
Keywords: J. Heyrovsky, G. Natta, R. Norrish, G. Porter, L. Pauling, G. Ertl

D. Klissurski

2011 – International Year of Chemistry

Chemistry – Our Life, Our Future: New Materials and Technologies

Absract. The article presents an approach to engineering design to create a new kind of materials combining the beneficial properties of plastics and metals. Metallized
plastic parts are widely used in automotive and sanitary fittings. Chemical nickel and copper were also used to obtain a metallized fabric shielding effect against electromagnetic radiation and for the manufacture of multilayer printed circuit boards.
Keywords: plating, electroplated plastics, metallized fabrics

K. Ruskova, A. Lirkov

Letters to the Editor

Chemistry Learning by Projects of Pupils in Seventh Grade

M. Bozova, T. Petrova

Teaching Efficiency

PISA 2006 and the Bulgarian Participitation In It

Absract. In the present paper some of the problems used in PISA 2006 are presented and commented. The results of the Bulgarian students participation in that world assessment programme are listed and discussed. This analysis reveals the reasons
for the unsatisfactory participation of the Bulgarian students in the competition.
The need to improve and modernize the science education in Bulgaria is emphasized
and the corresponding recommendations are given.
Keywords: PISA, assessment, key competencies, science

S. Petrova, S. Manev

Teaching Efficiency

Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Science External and Internal Assessment

Absract. National external testing exists in most industrialized countries, including
in almost all EU countries. Such standards-based assessment seeks to determine
to what extent elementary and secondary students meet certain expectations specified by national educational standards (State Educational Requirements). A survey focused on science teachers’ attitudes towards national and internal examinations has been implemented. The questionnaire consists of 42 close and open ended questions divided in three categories: Sample survey data, Attitude towards external assessment, Attitude towards internal assessment. The analysis of the respondents’ responses reveals on the whole, a positive attitude towards educational evaluation, particularly external assessment. As an assessment tool, teachers approve tests but they consider tests could be improved by of a variety of questions. At the same time they believe that the main reason for students’ failure, in both external and internal testing, is bad school discipline manifested in lack of regular learning. The analysis of teachers’ believes can
be informative to policy makers and thus to contribute to the further improvement of national assessment.

Keywords: national external assessment, internal assessment, survey education questionnaire, science teachers

A. Tafrova-Grigorova

Bulgarians Abroad

Dr. Spas Kolev

Absract. Dr. Spas Kolev (b. 1958 in Sofia, Bulgaria) is an associate professor at the University of Melbourne (Australia). Recently he has been awarded for ‘his glorious contribution to advance of modern flow injection analytical method’ with the FIA Award for Science. The academic achievements of Dr. Kolev are mentioned in brief in the present article.
Keywords: Spas Kolev, analytical chemistry, flow-injection method

D. Kolev

New Information Media

An Assessment System for E-Competences of Chemistry Teachers

Absract. The teacher’s competences are important in respect of improving students’ achievements and motivation during e-learning. In present study, different ICT
standards for teachers have been analyzed. Based on the framework, suggested by
the UNESCO experts, we propose requirements that will support chemistry teachers
to use e-learning more effectively. A system of tasks and situations is developed to establish teacher’s competences according to these requirements.
Keywords: ICT competency, e-competency standards, chemistry teachers, e-learning

M. Kirova

Chemistry & History of Chemistry: An Online Supplement

Scientific Instrument Based Questionnaire

Absract. In this paper, interesting questions related to common instrument systems with a specialized approach is presented as a supplementary study material for the benefit of young students who have the spirit of inquiry. This questionnaire is a mix of the right technical words and some specific logical analysis, designed to develop mental concentration, boost basic instrument awareness, enrich scientific thinking process and improve understanding of the true meaning of the terms used. The straight and universal answers to practice quiz of 126 selected instrument-centered questions each highlighting unique property measured using an instrument are listed at the end of the text. The momentum of change from traditional instruments to modern measuring and viewing instruments demonstrates the potential for different activities including high-technology research in several fields.
Keywords: interdisciplinary education, instrument questionnaire, educational analysis, measuring instruments, supplementary material, scientific information

B.H.S. Thimmappa

Свързани статии:

Chemistry, Number 1/2011, Volume 20 Chemistry, Number 2/2011, Volume 20 Chemistry, Number 3/2011, Volume 20 Chemistry, Number 4/2011, Volume 20