Tiny Things, Big Impact: Chemistry with Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

What if the most powerful chemistry lessons were the ones students couldn’t see, but could feel in their everyday lives?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Elaine Villanueva Bernal, Ph.D. Chemist of the University of California, Long Beach is joined by Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole, Ph.D. Chemist of Westfield State University who believes that tiny, invisible interactions can spark big learning breakthroughs.

Together, Elaine and Ashley explore how chemistry comes alive when it’s connected to the world students already care about, from the air we breathe and the food we cook to exercise, weather, and even baking. They dive into how tools like REAL CHEM and interactive simulations help students visualize abstract concepts, collaborate more confidently, and move past common barriers like math anxiety.

The conversation also touches on the role of mentorship in chemistry education, the power of group learning, and how thoughtfully designed explorations and checkpoints can help students build both conceptual understanding and confidence. Along the way, Elaine and Ashley share practical examples of how stoichiometry becomes a kitchen lesson, atmospheric chemistry becomes personal, and learning shifts from memorization to meaning.

Whether you’re teaching general chemistry, designing courseware, or looking for ways to help students see themselves in STEM, this episode is a reminder that when chemistry feels real, students lean in.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:34: Meet Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

2:43: Atmospheric Chemistry: The Invisible Science of the Air

5:15: Teaching General Chemistry with REAL CHEM

7:10: PHET Simulations: Connecting Things We Can’t See to Things We Care About

9:10: Teaching Group Activities with REAL CHEM

11:15: Real-Life Chemical Connections to Food, Weather, and Exercise

14:25: Mentorship in Chemistry Education

16:12: Getting Past the Fear of Math in Learning Chemistry

18:41: How Stoichiometry Becomes a Baking Lesson

22:03: Diving Deeper into REAL CHEM’s Explorations & Checkpoints

23:45: Q&A Lightning Round: Chemistry Favorites