Introduction

Picture this: you and a team of learners are presented with the task of creating an advertisement about an organic group in order to inform your classmates of the pertinent information pertaining to your organic compound group. You have been placed in creative teams and must plan out part of the advertisement. Choose a role from the list below and use the group you have been given to design and write your piece of the advertisement.

When we study complex topics, we are often like the research scientists: there's usually a lot more to a topic that we don't learn about after only a quick exploration.

This is particularly true when we use the Internet for our research because many people post their personal opinions or only know a sliver of the whole story. In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork and the abundant resources on the Internet to learn all about Organic Chemistry. Each person on your team will learn one piece of the puzzle and then you will come together to get a better understanding of the topic.

The Quest

What significance did organic compounds have in the twentieth century?

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Web pages from people all over the world who care about Organic Chemistry.

First, you'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background information on a specific topic involving your compound.

After, you and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles, it will be time to put your learning into an advertisement that you'll send out for feedback. Together you will design an advertisement that contains pictures, reactions, and background information that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your advertisement with a creative slogan about the message that you are trying to sell.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the properties, reactions and uses of your organic compound.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Your group should design a four page advertisement with plenty of background information that provides knowledge in a creative way.

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Each person should agree on the layout and information provided.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of where the organic compound is used (i.e. products)? What does the molecule's structure look like? How is this molecule harmful/beneficial? What type of reactions does your compound undergo? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insight fully as you can.

• Ethanes - ethane models
• Ethanol - Background information on ethanol, an alcohol.
• Cholesterol - Background information
• Methane - Background information
• Aspirin - background information and models
• Organic Compound Groups
• Aromatic compounds - DDT-deadly insecticide
• Alkenes - Why are there beautiful autumn colors?
• Molecules in the Bathroom - alcohols and ketones
• Phenol - Aromatic ring compound
• Molecule of the month - a variety of different organic and inorganic compounds
• Chemistry webbook
• 3-D molecular models
• Yahoo -
• Google
• Altavista
• Dogpile
• Biochemnet
• HS Chemistry Guide - Great site!

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main idea based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

5. Extra Credit: Make a cartoon using some characteristic(s) that is common to all of the elements in your group. Some characteristics include: reactivity, bonding, uses, etc.

6. Each article must be a minimum of 1 typed (12 font, 1.5 space, 1 inch margins and no pictures in the typed portion). Maximum of 2 pages.

Reactor Writer

Use the Internet information linked above to answer these questions specifically related to role, reactor writer: Describe the reactions that your organic molecule undergoes. Name the reaction, reactants, products involved. Give at least one example where this reaction occurs in real life.

Structure Describer

Use the Internet information linked above to answer these questions specifically related to role, structure describer: Provide at least 1 diagram of the organic molecule. Pretend you are the organic compound. Give as much detail about yourself, the organic compound, as possible. Examples of titles for this article may be Ether, life is a dream.

Product Investigator

Use the Internet information linked above to answer these questions specifically related to role, product investigator: Interview an organic compound that is part of your chosen organic group. Be creative and think of some questions and be sure to answer them as if you were the element. For example: Where are you from? How are you different from all other elements in your group? Who discovered you? What are you really like? What are your strengths? weaknesses? Be creative!!

Properties Correspondent

Use the Internet information linked above to answer these questions specifically related to role, properties correspondent: Investigate the chemical and physical properties of your organic compounds. Write an editorial about the properties of the group. For example, warn your readers of any harmful forms of this compound and give arguments for abandonment of its use.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Organic Chemistry. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer. Use information, pictures, facts, opinions, etc. from the Web pages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

 

Conclusion

So is how was your organic compound significant in the twentieth century? Well, when you're blindfolded and only *looking* at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for understanding a topic as complex as Organic Chemistry: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Organic Chemistry could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.