General Chemistry in the Study of the Environment

一台气相色谱-质谱仪和一台离子色谱仪正在促进贝茨学院新的普通化学入门课程的开发。这门为期两个学期的课程将基础化学概念与环境研究联系起来。该序列满足所有高级化学课程的一般化学前提条件和学士学位的化学要求。该课程是专门为强调进行科学调查所涉及的过程而设计的。在课堂上，协作学习方法被采用和实施，这种方法的有效性已经在国家科学基金会-到期9450615和国家科学基金会-到期9354606的资助项目中得到证明。在实验室里，学生们开展的项目展示了科学调查解决问题的本质。基于问题的学习的必要性是美国国家科学基金会最近一份题为《分析科学课程发展》的报告的中心建议。在第一学期，利用气相色谱-质谱学或离子色谱学的文献中的环境分析被改编成基于问题的实验室练习。在第二学期，学生监测海洋水族馆中的化学成分，这是对美国国家科学基金会制定的一套成功练习的改编和实施-DUE 9354530。学生们以小组形式工作，在调查的设计和执行方面拥有相当大的自主权。各种小组活动为学生提供了在专业环境中与他人合作的经验。

A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and an ion chromatograph are facilitating the development of a new introductory general chemistry course at Bates College. The two-semester course relates fundamental chemical concepts to the study of the environment. The sequence satisfies the general chemistry prerequisite for all upper-level chemistry courses and the chemistry requirement for the B.S. degree. The course is specifically designed to emphasize the process involved in conducting scientific investigations. In the class, collaborative learning methods, the effectiveness of which has been demonstrated in funded projects NSF-DUE 9450615 and NSF-DUE 9354606, are adapted and implemented. In the lab, students undertake projects that demonstrate the problem-solving nature of scientific investigations. The need for problem-based learning was the central recommendation in a recent NSF-sponsored report entitled Curricular Developments in the Analytical Sciences. In the first semester, environmental analyses from the literature that utilize gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or ion chromatography are adapted into problem-based laboratory exercises. In the second semester, students monitor the chemical constituents in a marine aquarium, an adaptation and implementation of a successful set of exercises developed in NSF-DUE 9354530. Working in teams, the students have considerable autonomy over the design and execution of the investigations. The various group activities give students experience working with others in a professional setting.