Applying Spectroscopy in General Education, Introductory, and Advanced Science Courses

化学(12)由于研究性实验室被发现是教授理解当今日益技术化的社会所需的概念和关系的最有效方法，洛拉斯学院修改了向本科生教授科学的方式。较小的、以发现为基础的部分已经取代了大型讲座形式的课程，不仅适用于生物、化学和工程学专业，也适用于普通教育计划的必修课。具体地说，购买了1)12个配备紫外线-可见光或可见光-近红外光谱仪的笔记本电脑兼容实验室站和2)4个FT-IR光谱仪，增加了学生基于探究和基于项目的实验室体验的数量和种类。19个实验正在改编自现代的最佳实践来源。11个新的基于发现的实验正在开发中，21个更传统的实验正在使用这些仪器。该项目的影响：每年，由9名教师授课的18个班级为180名普通教育学生和300名理工科学生提供服务；在四年的时间里，总共有超过一半的洛拉斯学院学生使用该设备。该项目的成功通过三种方式进行评估：1)由全校院校评估委员会进行评估；2)通过同时使用内部和外部审查员的计划审查机制进行评估；3)通过由外部顾问协调的直接评估。

Chemistry (12)Because inquiry-based laboratories are found to be the most effective method of teaching the concepts and relationships needed to understand today's increasingly technical society, Loras College has revised the way it teaches science to its undergraduate population. Smaller, discovery-based sections have replaced large, lecture-format classes not only for majors in Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering but also for required classes in the general education program. Specifically, the purchase of 1) twelve laptop compatible lab stations with ultraviolet-visible or visible-near infrared spectrophotometers and 2) four FT-IR spectrometers is increasing the number and variety of inquiry-based and project-based laboratory experiences for students. Nineteen experiments are being adapted from modern, best-practice sources. Eleven new discovery-based experiments are under development, and twenty-one more traditional experiments are making use of the instruments. The impact of this project: each year, eighteen classes taught by nine faculty serving 180 general education students and 300 science and engineering students utilize the equipment; in all, more than half of all Loras College students in a four year time span. The success of the project is being evaluated in three ways: 1) by the college-wide institutional Assessment Committee; 2) by a program review mechanism that employs both internal and external reviewers and 3) by direct assessment, coordinated by an external consultant.