History and Philosophy of Acidity: Engaging with Learners by a Different Route

Abstract

Developing ideas about the history and philosophy of science was a central objective of the EU HIPST project (http://hipstwiki.wetpaint.com/). Not only are the stories of scientific development and discovery motivating for young learners, especially when attached to the human actors involved, the stories are also a fertile ground for becoming engaged with the nature of science. Embedded within the context of acidity, a long-term story within chemistry that ranges from characterisation of how an acid behaves through to explanations of what an acid is, this work, funded by the EU, provides opportunity for students aged from 12 years to become chemical historians for a while. The traditional practical activities have been transformed by changing the questions normally asked, leading the students through an inductive process to the notion of an ideal acid. Along the way, working definitions of terms such as theory and concept are elaborated for both teachers and students. Innovative pedagogy for assessment is integrated into enjoyable yet challenging sequences.