Chemistry

Chemistry is one of the most challenging courses for Pre Health Sciences students. OSHKI recognizes that First Nations students struggle in the sciences as a discipline, and in particular chemistry as a subject area. This is due to many factors. One, the profile of student at OSHKI is descriptive of many NAN learners: most are adult, mature students who do not possess the required numeracy and literacy skills, much less chemistry that is a prerequisite for entry into health sciences programming and careers. This is due to the fact that, in the NAN territory, there are no high schools or chemistry laboratories available to study in, wherein potential students can acquire these skills. The students thus must travel a great distance to pursue secondary and post secondary education.

Two, the subject matter in chemistry is very abstract. Students can’t actually see most of the stuff that they’re learning about. This poses a challenge because First Nations learners are visual, kinetic learners. To help create mental pictures of this abstract world, First Nations students must learn to explore their own real world surroundings and environment.

Creating an online chemistry course site that is practical and culturally relevant and which supports distance learning and visual learning will help to reduce the barriers to student success.