Introduction
YOUR CHEMICAL CAREER PATH
Imagine this: you are a successful Chemisty student in year 12 looking to persue an occupation involving chemistry. Follow this WebQuest to discover qualifications you need, where and how you work and how much you will be paid $$$.
Watch the video below and then complete the quick quiz for a bit of fun before continuing to the Task
[video:https://youtu.be/Cq8MetiAtzM width:264 height:130 align:center]
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/apr/05/what-scientist-are-you-quiz
Task
Using the webquest to guide you in answering the following questions.
1. Identify the various roles chemists play in Australia?
2. Identify a chemical reaction where reactants form different products under different conditions, requiring monitoring.
State a particular occupation or industry in which chemists work and answer the following:
3. Name the branch/s of chemistry that are used in this occupation or industry?
4. Explain a chemical process that is used in your chosen occupation or industry.
5. Justify why collaboration between chemists can or cannot improve productivity or results in your chosen occupation or industry.
6. State a pathway you could use to gain a job in your chosen occupation or industry. Present examples of secondary and tertiary education that may be required. Outline details of the average salary in your chosen occupation or industry with comparisons to salaries in other chemical based occupations or industries.
You may present your findings in any format you like such as powerpoint presentation, dot points, poster, video or speech. You can even role play as a person in the career you have chosen and tell us about the work you do. It's up to you, let your imagination run WILD!
Process
Here are the websites that will assist you in answering the following questions. Some websites may help with more than one of the questions.
1. Identify the various roles chemists play in Australia?
http://www.chem.unsw.edu.au/RACI/whitecoats.htm
https://www.raci.org.au/education/university-and-beyond/chemistry-career-options
https://www.nicnas.gov.au/home
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/collections/higher-education/careers-and-professional-development
2. Identify a chemical reaction where reactants form different products under different conditions, requiring monitoring.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/chemreac/reversiblereacrev3.shtml
http://www.gcsescience.com/o30.htm
State a particular occupation or industry in which chemists work and answer the following:
3. Name the branch/s of chemistry that are used in this occupation or industry?
4. Explain a chemical process that is used in your chosen occupation or industry.
5. Justify why collaboration between chemists can or cannot improve productivity or results in your chosen occupation or industry.
[video:https://youtu.be/QevbUnyEgzs width:264 height:130]
http://www.abc.net.au/science/forensic/wannabe.htm
http://www.entox.uq.edu.au/research
http://www.pccarx.com.au/services/eagle-analytical-services
[video:https://youtu.be/_UXwbxM8YfI width:264 height:130]
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/chemical-college/what-chemical-engineering
http://www.beca.com/careers/graduates/australia/career_options/chemical_process.aspx
6. State a pathway you could use to gain a job in your chosen occupation or industry. Present examples of secondary and tertiary education that may be required. Outline details of the average salary in your chosen occupation or industry with comparisons to salaries in other chemical based occupations or industries.
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/course
http://www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/
http://www.flinders.edu.au/careers/degree/
https://www.adzuna.com.au/chemist
https://www.seek.com.au/jobs-in-science-technology/chemistry-physics/in-australia
http://www.payscale.com/mypayscale.aspx
[video:https://youtu.be/KBcE4bjDSrs width:264 height:130 align:left]
Evaluation
| 1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | |
| 1 |
One or two examples of roles chemists play in society |
Several examples of roles chemists play in our society |
Broad range of roles chemists play in our society. |
Broad range of roles chemists play in our society with specific examples within Australia. |
| 2 | Chemical reaction found. | Chemical reaction found, with balanced chemical equation written. |
Chemical reaction found, with balanced chemical equation written. States what industry or occupation uses this chemical reaction. |
Chemical reaction found, with balanced chemical equation written. States what industry or occupation uses this chemical reaction and for what purpose in our society. |
| 3 | Occupation or Industry selected that involves chemisrty. | Occupation or Industry selected is found in Australia. Limited description of branches of chemistry | Occupation or Industry selected is found in Australia. Sound description of branches of chemistry. |
Occupation or Industry selected is found in Australia. Description of branches of chemistry used are detailed and accurate. |
| 4 | Chemical process is described. | Chemical process is described using balanced equation. | Chemical process is described using balanced equation. Detailed analysis of processes involved. |
Chemical process is described using balanced equation. Detailed analysis of process including use of products in our society. |
| 5 | Limited evaluation of collaboration between chemsits in chosen occupation/industry. | Sound evaluation of collaboration between chemsits in chosen occupation/industry. | Detailed evaluation of collaboration between chemsits in chosen occupation/industry. |
Detailed evaluation of collaboration between chemsits in chosen occupation/industry. Example of benfit that relates directly to our society. |
| 6 | Limited pathway described including secondary and tertiary pathway. Accurate annual salary range stated | Sound pathway described including secondary and tertiary pathway. Accurate annual salary range stated | Detailed pathway described including secondary and tertiary pathway. Accurate annual salary range stated. |
Detailed pathway described including secondary and tertiary pathway. Accurate annual salary range stated with evaluation of comparison to other chemical occupations. |
Conclusion
WELL DONE!
I hope you have had fun reasearching a possible career in chemistry. Remember you can present your finding in any way you choose. On the following credits page you will find additional tasks if you wish to investigate further.
Below is a clip from Mr Bean showing what not to do in a chemistry lab, ENJOY!
[video:https://youtu.be/6aK2CKrdjbE width:264 height:130]
Credits
CHALLENGE QUESTIONS
Once you have completed your presentation you may extend your knowledge with these addtional activities:
Q1.
Create a flow chart showing where you are now, and the path you would take to your ideal Chemistry career, include as much detail as you like, including how you would fund your education, where your would study, live and work if needed.
Q2.
Follow the link below to studyassist.gov.au to revise HECS help in Australia. Summarise the main points and deduce the benifit of HECS.
http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/studyassist/helppayingmyfees/hecs-help/pages/hecs-help-welcome
Teacher Page
This WebQuest was created to meet the requirements of the HSC Chemistry Syllabus, section 9.4 as stated below:
Section 9.4 Chemical Monitoring and Management |
Students learn to:
|
Students:
|
1. Much of the work of chemists involves monitoring the reactants and products of reactions and managing reaction conditions
| Outline the role of a chemist employed in a named industry or enterprise, identifying the branch of chemistry undertaken by the chemist and explaining a chemical principle that the chemist uses. Identify the need for collaboration between chemists as they collect and analyse data. Describe an example of a chemical reaction such as combustion, where reactants form different products under different conditions and thus would need monitoring.
| Gather, process and present information from secondary sources about the work of practising scientists identifying the variety of chemical occupations. Identify specific chemical occupation for a more detailed study where they can evaluate the value of the career in our society and list the steps involved to qualify for the occupation.
|
(Board of Studies, 2004)
Students will critically engage in the pathways to their chosen career, giving connectedness to their own lives (Ladwig, Smith, Gore, Amosa & Griffiths, 2008). Role play is a vital component in positive identity formation and this WebQuest allows students to follow a virtual path towards a career that is realiatic for them (Archer, 1994; Bradley & Matsukis, 2000).
There are a broad variety of websites and YouTube clips to meet the diverse needs of learners in the stage 6 classroom. The addition of extention work under the credits tab is available for, but not limited to, high achieving students to extend their knowledge, creating a Webquest with high expectations for all learners (Ladwig et.al., 2008). The rubric is explicit, giving students a clear statement of what is required to be sucessful in the WebQuest (Ladwig et.al., 2008).
My WebQuest involves varying thinking skills within Blooms Taxonomy including lower order skills such as remembering when identifying occupations involving chemistry, as well as higher order thinking skills such as creating their own presentation (Adams, 2015). I have given students choice by allowing them to research any occupation involving chemistry, and the ability to present their answers in any form they wish, allowing student direction within the task (Ladwig, et.al., 2008).
REFERENCES.
Adams, N. E. (2015). Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive learning objectives. Journal Of The Medical Library Association, 103(3), 152-153
Archer, S. L. (1994). Interventions for adolescent identity development (Vol. 169). Sage Publications, Inc.
Board of Studies NSW (2004). Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus and support documents. Sydney: Board of Studies.
Bradley, G., & Matsukis, P. (2000). Identity status and youth recklessness. Youth Studies Australia, 19(4), 48.
Ladwig, James G., Smith, Max, Gore, Jennifer, Amosa, Wendy, Griffiths, Tom G.. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE); 2008. Quality of pedagogy and student achievement: multi-level replication of authentic pedagogy.