Directed Inquiry in a Large General Chemistry Laboratory

这个项目是介绍红外光谱和显微镜作为新生实验室经验的关键要素，除了目前的调查手段。 这些是适用于研究多种样品的强大但不复杂的工具。 红外线在说明分子动力学和键合的许多方面也具有教学价值。 显微镜有助于学生的化学经验的一个有利的审美元素。 这个项目是解决学生的看法，化学，至少是在入门课程，很少或根本没有做与他们的生活，通过集中与“真实的世界”的材料，如镇痛药，家用清洁剂，塑料，纺织纤维，维生素等大一化学实验室计划。 该项目利用由此产生的兴趣，为学生提供机会，以小组为单位，以“直接调查”的方式计划和开展对这些材料的小规模调查。

This project is introducing infrared spectroscopy and microscopy as key elements of the freshman laboratory experience, in addition to the current means of investigation. These are powerful but uncomplicated tools applicable to study of many kinds of samples. Infrared is also pedagogically valuable for illustrating molecular dynamism and many aspects of bonding. Microscopy contributes a favorable esthetic element to the student experience of chemistry. This project is addressing student perceptions that chemistry, at least as taught in introductory courses, has little or nothing to do with their lives, by focusing the freshman chemistry laboratory program on working with "real world" materials such as analgesics, household cleaning agents, plastics, textile fibers, vitamins, and the like. This project harnesses the resulting interest by providing opportunities for students, working in groups, to plan and carry out small-scale investigations of such materials in a "directed-inquiry" mode.