What the Xtend Section of ChemEd X Includes

Updated

Xtend is the part of ChemEd X that points you outward rather than hosting everything itself. According to the site, it brings together events, "Picks" (such as books, journal articles, and news feeds), and professional development resources, with content selected by educators for educators. Use it when you want curated leads on what to read, attend, or explore next; use the site's Xplore section instead when you need classroom-ready, peer-reviewed activities and labs.

What you will find in Xtend

The site describes Xtend as a way to "extend your professional reach by connecting with relevant chemistry content from across the internet." Its stated contents are:

  • Events — gatherings and happenings relevant to chemistry educators.
  • "Picks" — recommended books, journal articles, and news feeds.
  • Professional development resources — material for continuing to build your teaching practice.

A key detail is the selection process: Xtend content is chosen by educators for educators. That means the value is in the curation, not in original peer-reviewed publication. Treat Xtend as a discovery layer and check the original source before relying on any item for classroom use.

How Xtend differs from the other two sections

ChemEd X organizes its offerings into three named areas. Knowing which one to open saves time:

Section What it is for Type of content
Xplore Finding teaching material Curated repository of high-quality, peer-reviewed, tested resources: articles, lab demonstrations, classroom activities, assessment tools
Xperience Hearing from other instructors Community hub for blog posts and talks
Xtend Looking beyond the site Events, Picks (books, journal articles, news feeds), professional development resources

If your task is "I need a lab for next week," start in Xplore. If it is "I want to know what other chemistry teachers are saying," go to Xperience. If it is "I want pointers to reading, events, or PD," Xtend is the match.

A practical example

Suppose you teach high school chemistry and want to refresh a unit without building materials from scratch. You could open Xplore for a tested classroom activity, then check Xtend for a related book or journal article to deepen the background, and look at its events listing for a workshop or talk. The three sections are designed to work together: Xplore for the lesson, Xperience for peer perspective, Xtend for outside reading and professional growth.

Current limitations to expect

The site states that it recently migrated to a new web platform and that the transition "still has temporary limitations," including an interruption in new content and in the ability to contribute. It also says improved features are coming. So if an Xtend listing looks thin or a link is stale, that may reflect the migration rather than the section's intended scope. The site does not publish pricing or login requirements in the material available here, so check the site directly if access terms matter for your use.