How can we apply chemistry to real-world problems in the classroom? (BCCE 2026)

What if chemistry classes were organized around real-world problems instead of chapters in a textbook?In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Vicente Talanquer about helping students think like chemists rather than simply memorize chemistry. They explore why authentic, real-world problems can transform learning, how instructors can make meaningful changes without rewriting an entire course, and why teaching chemistry is about developing a way of thinking—not just delivering content.

 

Important Links

• Submit a Question for Community Conversations
• bcce.divched.org/2026
• YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife
• chemforyourlife.com

Free resources Chemical Thinking Curriculum Structure: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/structure

More on Chemical Thinking Curriculum: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/

General Chemistry - CLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/general-chemistry.aspx

Organic Chemistry OCLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/organic-chemistry.aspx

Time Stamps

• 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation series
• 2:40 – Meet Vicente Talanquer and this year’s discussion topic
• 4:10 – What does “authentic phenomena” actually mean?
• 7:40 – Memorization vs. meaningful understanding
• 12:10 – The two big questions guiding the Community Conversation
• 16:25 – What an authentically engaged chemistry classroom looks like
• 21:40 – Where should instructors begin making changes?
• 24:30 – Formative vs. summative assessment
• 26:50 – Free teaching resources and curriculum examples
• 30:50 – Why Vicente is excited about this year’s BCCE conversations

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