What are the best practices for teaching resonance structure concepts?

Visual aids, are one of the best approach that gives better idea of resonating structure. These basically helps students to understand what is resonance and why structure resonate. Students get to know what is fundamental frequency or natural frequency of the resonating structure .

Visual aids are definitely effective to understand the actual concept .the main thing is that the diagram is should be clear and meaning ful

To teach resonance structure concepts, you could use visual aids. This is so that it's easier for your students to understand your lessons. You could use diagrams and videos to demonstrate how an electron moves from one molecule to another. This is easier for your students to understand the theory behind this concept. You could also create models to show your students physically how the molecules evolve. This is so that your students can even touch the model in order to have a better understanding

Resonance structures absolutely require some visual aid to understand that electrons have a limited movement based on the imbalance of nearby charges. Without something of a "windshield wiper movement" for lack of a better term, we couldn't begin to understand how to encourage nucleophilic interactions. Drawing with your students as a class is the best thing you can do to try to reinforce this concept.

Before describing the idea of or examples of a resonance structure, it is important to first recognize how electrons exist in matter. Many simplistic models of an atom or a molecule try to pigeonhole electrons into a fixed location. This is, however, not realistic. Instead, electrons are constantly on the move. They are overflowing with energy which makes them bounce and vibrate and spin like crazy. However, all of this motion will happen within some confined area. A resonance diagram helps us to use a more simplistic model of a molecule (Ex. a Lewis Dot diagram) to describe this idea that electrons can kind of exist everywhere at once.

Before discussing the complex structures ,core principles of resonance should be clear to a student that what they are .after getting knowledge of core principles they will be able to understand all the material associated with it

From the visual aids, the process of resonance is well understood, but as a students, one needs to understand the parameters that actually lead to the resonance, such as structure material, shape, position and also external factors. Core principles are offcourse needed so that students can understand what resonance is, when structure alone is considered (say ideal condition)and how external factors have impact on the structure resonance.

You could use incremental steps in order to teach your students about resonance structures. This is so that they can understand how each molecule gains or loses an electron. You need to let your students know how each molecule evolves to become something else. This is so that they wouldn't be confused when you are teaching them about how molecule evolves. You should make sure that your students understand each phase of the molecule. This is so that they can understand when the molecules "grow".

A teacher should use the interactive sessions ,split the students in group and instruct them to analysis the work of other group and through their analysis ,members of both groups will be in the position to clear their concepts

I had a great teacher for organic chemistry that made us flash cards to use. The chemical reaction was on one side and the mechanism was on the other. She split us into small 4 person groups to play a game with them. Having one student draw a card and ask another student to describe the mechanism was the game. If you get the mechanism right, you keep the card and it counts as a point. The student with the most points wins! Fostering an environment where students can have fun and discuss the movement of electrons is a great learning experience.

I like a hands-on approach where students can come to conclusions. Start with the rules for building Lewis structures. Then break the students into groups and give them a few formulas that have different acceptable Lewis structures. Have the groups come up with as many valid Lewis structures as possible over say a ten minute period. When they’re done, have the students present their structures to the class, and have the other groups comment. As long as they’re valid structures, go up to the board and put a check mark next to it. Then ask them how multiple structures can be valid. See what they say. Guide the discussion with questions about how sigma and pi covalent bonds are defined. Help them arrive at delocalization. Then teach arrows.

You coupd use real-world examples to teach your students about resonance structures. This is so that they can understand how it's done. You could tell them examples about how a certain chemical evolved into something else through resonance structure. This is so that they can see in real life how it's done. You must also tell them about the uses of the chemicals or products when it has that certain amount of electrons. This is so that they can understand the purpose of each chemical.

Students tend to dislike written questions, but having 3-5 mechanism problems on a test can make the difference. It is easier to tell if a student is struggling with the concept if you can watch their thought process to solving a written out problem. Also, it is valuable to give partial credit on these if they can provide some of the correct steps to solving the problem. It's a win for both the student and the teacher.