Teaching: Think Outside the Box

Working as a teacher at CTC has allowed me to become creative and think outside the box when teaching higher level courses such as chemistry.  For example, our most recent topic in chemistry has included a study of carbohydrate reactions.  To illustrate this topic, our class made strawberry jam.  We studied how the acidity of the strawberries, when heated, breaks down the sucrose in sugar (a disaccharide) to form two monsaccharides (glucose and fructose). This reaction accounts for the delicious taste of our jam. We were also able to taste test this carbohydrate reaction!  I find that lessons like this really help to solidify concepts that will allow students to apply their knowledge to other areas in the future.