ChemTeach Educational Course for High School Teachers in Banja Luka
The ChemTeach project conducted an intensive educational course for high school teachers from June 9-13, 2025, at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This five-day professional development program focuses on innovative teaching methods and practical laboratory applications.
Program Structure
Day 1 (June 9): Opening sessions feature presentations on modern chemistry education approaches, including STEAM integration and science diplomacy. The afternoon includes visits to secondary schools for practical classroom observations and discussions with local educators.
Day 2 (June 10): Chemistry popularization lectures and a stakeholder roundtable discussion address strategies for advancing chemistry teaching quality and engaging students in chemical sciences.
Day 3 (June 11): Hands-on laboratory demonstrations showcase advanced analytical techniques, including spectrophotometric analysis of iron (III)-salicylate complexes, iodometric titration methods, and cosmetic product chemistry exploration.
Day 4 (June 12): Participants learn video tutorial creation techniques for educational content development. Laboratory sessions focus on practical experiments, including Maillard reactions, acid detection in dairy products, vitamin C determination, forensic dactyloscopy, and enzyme analysis.
Day 5 (June 13): The program concludes with sessions on project management, immersive educational technologies, including virtual reality applications, and digital wellbeing in education.
Laboratory Workshops
The course includes comprehensive practical sessions covering:
Analytical Chemistry: Spectrophotometric determination of complex stability constants, iodometric titrations for hypochlorite analysis, and advanced analytical techniques using modern instrumentation.
Applied Chemistry: Food chemistry experiments including caramel preparation through Maillard reactions, acid quantification in dairy products, and vitamin C analysis in fruits.
Forensic Applications: Fingerprint analysis techniques using graphite powder and ninhydrin development methods.
Biochemistry: Human salivary amylase detection and enzyme activity studies.
International Faculty
The program features expert instructors from partner institutions across Slovakia and the Czech Republic, bringing diverse perspectives on modern chemistry education. Topics include STEAM methodology integration, cross-disciplinary approaches, and innovative laboratory techniques.
Professional Development Focus
The course emphasizes practical skills that teachers can immediately implement in their classrooms, including video content creation, immersive technology integration, and engaging experimental demonstrations that connect chemistry concepts to real-world applications.
This comprehensive training program represents the ChemTeach project's commitment to enhancing chemistry teaching quality through international collaboration and innovative pedagogical approaches.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
