Otis' Page

Chemical Education Interests

As Professor of Chemistry at Illinois State University, my major responsibility to the University Department of Chemistry involved teaching and coordinating the course Liberal Arts Chemistry, a large lecture section chemistry course designed for non-science majors. As an Emeritus Professor (OK, Retired), I am working on a series of essays collectively titled "The Chemist's Atom." Since these essays are intended as resources for high school science teachers, I also occasionally give essay related chemical demonstration presentations to groups of high school science teachers.

Teaching chemistry at all levels presents many challenges. I share a common bond with all chemistry instructors: I am still working on trying to do it right. To this end, some of the navigation links in the Site Navigation menu lead to pages related to this ongoing challenge. Although "Is It Chemistry or Magic?" is no longer an active presentation, the Magic Show link leads to useful teaching resources related to the presentation. Call it Emeritus or Retired, chemistry is still the "one thing I do."

Otis' Illinois State University Web Page

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do..."