Hi everyone,

I have been busy with the last few days for the preparation of my good friend “changman” wedding dinner on tuesday. I have been invited by him to help him out as the main coordinator as well as the MC (emcee) for his big night.

Been trying to find time to share with more Chemistry Phenomenons, Tips and Strategies for you score the marks you desire for chemistry. Even though i was busy, i have not forgotten about you readers, that are hungry for more information on chemistry. And i would like to thank those readers that sent me emails and facebook messages asking if i am alright.

I got a gift from this friend of mine, and it was a lovely classic Kenneth Cole watch.

And today, we shall discuss a very basic application of Chemistry and see whether you are aware of such Chemistry Phenomenons that surrounding you everyday.

(Some words written behind: “All Stainless Steel“)

Now, have you ever wear a “metal” watch that after a few months or years, will start to rust / corrodes? Perhaps, only some parts of the “metal” watch rusts only? I used to have a couple of them that rusts when i am in my teenage years.

In the presence of water/moisture and oxygen (which is present in about 21% of air surrounding us), metals tend to corrode/rust easily. Iron and steel is one of the most common metals serving mankind. Iron is very prone to rusting due to its reactivity while steel although an alloy, they tend to rust after sometimes also. In order for steel to be more corrosion-resistant (rust-resistant), we have Stainless Steel.

And i am definitely happy that this watch given by my friend has all the metal parts made of stainless steel – meaning it wont rust so easily and can last longer…Hey Changman, hope you see this blogpost. =)

So this is the tip you shall bring home today, next time teach your parents and friends to choose a “metal type” watch that is made of ALL STAINLESS STEEL rather than those STAINLESS STEEL BACK, in order to last longer. Caution: Not all branded expensive watch are made of ALL STAINLESS STEEL. Do not assume. Check your watch now!

Now, i have a question for you.

Q1) What are the elements present in Stainless Steel?

Q2) Where can you observe another application of Stainless Steel, besides in watches?

PS: Drop me your comment on this blogpost on Chemistry Phenomenons, as well as your suggested answers. I would love to hear from you.

PPS:Stay close to this blog, cos i am going to continue sharing Chemistry Tips and Strategies by discussing Exam-Based Questions in next few posts.

Hi everyone,

We have come to the end of 2008 and this is the festive month of joyful celebration and giving! Everyone loves the holidays! Christmas less than a week away and shortly after we will welcome the New Year – 2009!

Today, I’m here with a *special gift* for all my avid readers!

In only 2 months since the official launch, my chemistry book “Up Your Chemistry Grades Now!” has traveled to over 10 countries, and they are:

Singapore , United States , Malaysia , Mauritius , United Kingdom , Indonesia , India , Brunei , Pakistan, Australia , and counting…..

benefiting hundreds of students in their mastery of Chemistry.

Many of you might have also downloaded the F-R-E-E Introductory Section of the book to have a feel how this chemistry book is different from the many Ten Year Series, Assessment Books and Guidebooks available in bookstores.

To celebrate the brand new year of 2009, I want to present you with a special *offer* of over 40% off my book so that you can turn around your current Chemistry results like many others who have read! (more…)

Hohohoho,

WIshing All A MERRY MERRY X’MAS!

url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt-K5w1PFMo

Enjoy this festive period…

“Work Hard; Play Hard”

About a week ago, we have blogpost about the number of professionals that will be switching to Teaching as a career, during this economic downturn. We have received various comments and emails from readers about their thoughts.

Today we are going to discuss a very important thing about teaching?

What are the qualities of a good teacher?

The word ‘good’ can have quite a few interpretations. For the purpose of this blog post, it is assumed that “good” here means “Effective”, that is, a teacher can impart his knowledge and whatever other values it is his responsibility to spread to his charges. It is also assumed that the teacher under discussion is one who teaches secondary school and/or junior college.

First of all, a teacher must know his profession thoroughly. He must know his subject for beyond the point he intends to teach. He needs to be an expert in his field. For example, if he is teaching chemistry, he should know all the chemistry-related fields and careers out there. He should also need to be able to relate how Chemistry is related to our everyday life, and not some abstract concepts and theories. The teacher needs to translate those abstract concepts and turn them into interesting things that the students can relate in their everyday life. It is only in this way, he can then make cross references and answer all the questions that arise in the minds of his students.

(Image by Gillian)

Knowing his subject is of no use if he does not know how, or does not bother to, teach it most effectively to his students. Many times, we have seen scholars-turned-teacher that fumble big time when they started their teaching careers. Knowing a certain subject and scoring distinction in it, does not necessarily guarantee an A for his students, not to mention a distinction.

Though it is true that in a secondary school and/or college, students should take responsibility for their own learning, it would be dull and boring to learn from a teacher who does not present his subject in an interesting manner.

It is the teacher’s duty to promote love of his subject among his students. This he can do so only first by loving the subject himself. His enthusiasm and love for his subject will catch on with his students and if they learn to love a subject, they can learn it more efficiently and effectively.

An ineffective teacher usually by his lack of enthusiasm and interest, will cause his subject to be hated by the students. So often, we have hear students complaining about how much they hate a certain subject and when we asked them in details, the answers always fall back to their “teacher”. Can you see the link?

It for such reasons that a teacher should adopt good teaching methods instead of resorting to easier methods like just reading out of a textbook, or even worst – students have “Peers Teaching – students teach students!”, Online Teaching, “Read That Chapter On Your Own”.

Every teacher must be genuinely interested in his job. He must feel that it is his calling to develop young minds and through them, to actually shape the destiny of the country and the world. He must be dedicated and caring at least to the point that it matters to him that his students learn all that they need to know.

Over and above teaching his subject, a teacher has the responsibility to develop the characters if the students in his life. Quite often, a teacher is s student’s role model. All of us go through school, hero worship at least one teacher whom we would like to emulate. A teacher should always be aware of his responsibility. If by any chance he were to show flexibility in ethics and morals, he is more or less giving a sanction to his young charges that it is acceptable for them to be like that too. This applies to simple vices like smoking and more serious errors where the teacher fails to draw a clear line between good and bad behavior. I do understand that teacher should also have their own privacy, and I respect that, but when it comes to public appearance, they would have to comply to their positive side. For myself, I am what I am today, partly due to the teachers that I have met during my secondary school days.

Since the birth of civilisations, teachers have been the pillars of society. Staying in the background, at least for most of the time, they have been indirectly responsible for the advancement of the race. Often, it is their lot to go unnoticed. But time and again, all great men and woman have been unsparing in their praise of teachers. This is by far their greatest responsibility. Teachers are the ones who guarantee that our tomorrows will be as good as, if not better than, our today. By shaping characters and instilling knowledge, they ensure that the world continues to be.

I salute those teachers that have been an inspiration to the students that have taught.

PS: This article has been published on the Ezine Articles Online Directories that are being read by thousands of readers each day globally. If you would like to read more published articles written by me, you can go to the sidebar under “Ezine Article Expert Author” on the right hand side of this blog.

Hello everyone,

You must have wondered why you have not see any blogpost for the last week.

Together with the other master trainers and staffs in Winners Education Group, we were @ Genting, Malaysia for Winners Eduation Group company retreat.

url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RncNFtVAK50

Aim of Retreat:

• Relax
• Recharge
• Regroup
• Revitalise

in order to effectively coach our new group of O Level students (sec 3 and 4) in 2009, using our High Energy, High Impact coaching techniques coupled with Accelerated Learning Technologies (US systems).

Oh yar, as what we always tell our students, we support the notion:

“Work Hard, Play Hard. Study Hard Play Hard”

Below are some selective photos that were taken in Genting (in case you have never been there before..it is a COOL place).

(Misty Genting – entertainment above the clouds)

(Sunset @ the Woodlands Causeway)

(Nice scenery along the way)

(High voltage cables – related to Chemistry Phenomenons & Theories, do you know?)

(Genting Highlands – among the clouds)

(There are so much chemistry phenomenons i see at Genting Highlands)

More pictures coming soon…

Cheers
Sean

PS: X’ Mas is coming..and we have a gift for all out readers that have been believing and supporting us all this while..Stay Tuned!

PPS: If you are Sec 3 or 4 in 2009, and are committed to improve your grades for Chemistry (and Math), we have something really good for you..you will see more details in the next blogpost..Stay Tuned!

Last wednesday 4th Dec 2008, I was reading the papers and an article on Ministry of Education (MOE) recruitment drives caught my attention.

It is good to hear that MOE is going to recruit 2,200 more teachers to gear up their teaching arsenals. It is also good news for those professionals that is going to lose their jobs in this economic downturn.

But have we ever asked: Is this good news for the students? and their parent?

No No. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying these professionals becoming a teacher is a bad thing.

I personally came into Chemistry Coaching after spending long period of time walking in and out of research labs, and serving the Chemical Research community as a Technical Product Specialists (and key chemistry account manager) for some time.

And i believe to be an effective teacher / coach, you need to have industrial experience in order to communicate experiences and life examples on what student learned is schools are actually been used in our surroundings.

But, lets zoom into the above newspaper article. I felt somehow uncomfortable at terms used by some of these professionals when interviewed by MOE personnel, and might be coaching your child?

Someone said: ” Teaching, looks like a very wise and evergreen industry”

Another added: “You  don’t expect someone who has 16, 18 years experience to come in to be a teacher at S$4,000. Some unbalance in terms of  compensation and scope of work”

To be able to communicate and transfer all our knowledge and skills to the students, besides the industrial experience, there is a more important requirements that come before that - PASSION!

Have you heard of your child saying that they don’t understand what a certain teacher is teaching, because he/she is so boring and his/her lesson is so “dead”?

Get my point? From the above recruitment drive, if those professional becomes MOE teacher, i wonder how much their students will learn from them. Everything they said is about monetary stuff, evergreen industry, etc…Passion in coaching students seems to be one of the last reason they are joining MOE teaching.

I am glad Mrs Gladys Chew, Recruitment Marketing Manager MOW has mentioned that “You Have to Prove Yourself First!” =)

But, i am wondering what she means by “Successful Applicants will get to try out teaching in Schools for 4 weeks!” Does it mean that they will become the relief teacher for students in school?

This may be the reason why many of students came, always complaining that teachers keep changing and they all teach differently with different style. Some are lost which is their permanent chemistry teacher, and lost their interest in Chemistry.

I really wish what i have said earlier is all wrong.

PS: Drop me a comment on how you feel about this article and recruitment drive. I would love to hear from you.

This will be the 3rd post on Post Analysis Series “Common Errors in Chemistry Concepts made by Students”.

In Part 1, i have brought the attention that Ionic Compounds can only conduct electricity when they are in the molten or aqueous states, and the reason being the Free Moving Ions that can carry charges.

Immediately, I received a blog comment from an avid reader of this chemistry blogsite as well as facebook friend, asking me the following:

“Hi. You stated that the phrase ‘free moving electrons’ is incorrect, so may I know if I’m right if I said ‘mobile valence electrons’? I think this phrase is written in the chem textbook if I didn’t remember wrongly. Hahas. I hope you can clear my doubt. Thanks! =)”

=> I am elated to receive his comments and i would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasize that for Ionic Compounds, they conduct electricity in the aqueous and molten states – NOT because of the Free Moving Electrons or Mobile Valence Electrons, but the FREE MOVING IONS.

Most of the textbooks available in the bookstores/schools have mentioned about this, but it seems like schools these days do not use the textbook for teaching anymore, and many students missed out this main concept in Ionic Bonding. Let’s check out the one by Marshall Cavendish Education (a very good Textbook by the way):

(Click image above to have a clearer view – answers at the bottom of the image)

I hope this re-affirm my emphasis towards this Chemistry Concepts that is so basic yet crucial.

PS: If you wish to have a extensive list of “Common Errors Made by 90% of students over and over again” and “what Examiners are looking out for in your examination answers”, Click Here for More Info

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