Rudolf Arendt (chemist)

Rudolf Friedrich Eugen Arendt (* 1828 in Frankfurt (Oder) , † 1902 in Leipzig ) was a German chemist and educator .

Among other things, he wrote the article on “Didactics and Methodology of Chemistry Lessons ” in the Handbook of Education and Teaching for Secondary Schools . He was a representative of object teaching and shaped this significantly through his writings. Therefore, he also condemned the systematic teaching method, because here the "teaching material is arranged according to the chemical elements and there is no concern of putting more complex processes in front of the simpler ones".

"Methodical course"

Arendt contrasted the systematic chemistry lessons with his "methodical course":

1. One progresses from the simple to the more difficult (Comenius, Diesterweg).
2. The substances to be treated are those which are known from daily life experience.
3. The introduction to chemistry takes place in the "language of ordinary life".
4. The chemical reaction forms the degree of classification for the entire course.
5. The material changes should be expanded step by step and the "more complex must be concentrically attached to the simple".
6. Constant recourse to what was previously recognized should lead to a systematization of the facts.
7. The parts of the course must be logically linked.
8. The teachings imparted must "form a coherent whole". An additional systematic treatment of chemical knowledge should be unnecessary.
9. The course must be suitable for all schools. Reductions for the individual school types should be possible.
10. Both the “inductive and the deductive methods are to be applied” “in suitable alternation and sequence”.

Arendt's didactic principles, which are reproduced here in his own language, contain essential content and concepts of today's chemistry didactics. All you have to do is use the current terminology. Arendt was also convinced that chemistry lessons could be achieved on a purely experimental basis. In his didactics , he demanded not only teacher tests but also class tests.

He published a textbook on experimental chemistry as early as 1881; this appeared in 1962 with the same title in its 7th edition.

In 1893 he was accepted into the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina .

Works (selection)

• Rudolf Arendt: Outline of Inorganic Chemistry . 2nd Edition. Leopold Voss, Leipzig 1881.
• Rudolf Arendt: Inorganic Chemistry in Fundamentals . 2nd Edition. Leopold Voss, Hamburg and Leipzig 1894.
• Rudolf Arendt, Ludwig Dörmer: Basics of chemistry for teaching in higher schools . Johann Ambrosius Barth, Leipzig.
• Rudolf Arendt: Technique of Experimental Chemistry . Instructions for performing chemical experiments for teachers and students. 2nd Edition. Leopold Voss, Leipzig 1892.
• Guide to teaching chemistry and mineralogy in secondary schools . Leopold Voss Leipzig
• Guide to teaching chemistry and mineralogy in higher education institutions . Leopold Voss Leipzig
• Technique of Inorganic Experimental Chemistry . Hamburg, Leipzig 1910

literature

• Berthold Peter Anft:  Arendt, Rudolf Friedrich Eugen. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 1, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1953, ISBN 3-428-00182-6 , p. 345 f. ( Digitized version ).
• Karl Häusler: In: Konkrete Fachdidaktik Chemie - 3rd edition. Oldenbourg Schulbuchverlag GmbH. Munich 2002, p. 25
• Norbert Just: Interactions between general didactics and subject didactics: depicted on the historical development of the subject chemistry didactics in the second half of the 19th century. Westarp Verlag Mülheim / Ruhr, 1989, p. 46 ff.

Web links

Wikisource: Rudolf Arendt  - sources and full texts

• Literature by and about Rudolf Arendt in the catalog of the German National Library

Individual evidence

1. ^ Member entry of Rudolf Arendt at the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina , accessed on April 12, 2015.