Periodic Table Reflection

The development of the Periodic Table Module was the result of a desire to incorporate the Internet into my curriculum. At the time this module was prepared, little had been done by textbook authors to include the use of the Internet with the textbook syllabus. By having the students go out on the Internet to find information, the students would not only learn about the periodic table, but they would also gain experience in using computers and how to utilize the Internet. Many authors and publishers of textbooks with 2000 or later copyrights now include websites that can be accessed by the student.

While developing this module, I grew very much aware of the dynamic nature of the Internet and the various internet sites. In the course of checking sites, I found that many of the sites were constantly changing or were no longer available. Many good sites that were available one week were no longer available the next. I have tried to convince the students that not only are the websites changeable but that they are not always reliable. Many websites are advanced by individuals and may not be as valid as those developed through a college or university.

I have tried to incorporate many aspects of the periodic table such as its origin, its development, and how the position of the elements is related to their reactivity. The first two ideas are developed by using the Internet and the third idea is developed by incoporating a lab experiment which helps the students see how the position of an element in the periodic table can be used to predict its relative reactivity.