Promoting the Interrelationship of Chemistry and Society with a Case Study Approach

这个概念验证项目在普通化学课程中采用了以学生为中心的基于问题的学习技术，以促进对化学，技术和社会之间相互关系的考虑。案例研究将创建基于团队的分析，讨论和演示，以使学生参与化学决策的环境和经济影响的批判性分析。这种教学方法将学生置于教育过程的中心地位，使他们能够实践决策，练习分析思维，吸收不同的观点，培养自我反思的习惯，并提高他们的沟通技巧。为了扩大案例研究的潜在受众，代表至少七个不同机构的教员将测试案例研究材料。这些讲师为具有不同背景和职业抱负的学生提供广泛的化学入门课程。将建立一个关于当前专题化学应用的案例研究汇编，其中涉及传统上在普通化学课程中提出的概念。为每个案例研究开发的材料包括背景阅读;在练习之前完成的书面作业;一组问题，旨在指导一组学生通过案例研究的关键化学，环境和经济方面，并帮助他们通过越来越复杂的步骤来解决开放式问题;以及后续的书面作业。还将准备用于加强教师在案例研究课堂管理方面的发展的材料。案例研究材料和教师发展资源将通过出版物和演示文稿传播给化学界，并通过商业出版商分发教科书辅助。此外，还将设计额外的案例研究前和案例研究后练习，以建立学生表现的初始基线，确定学生在整个课程中的表现基准，并衡量项目成果。该项目将有助于增强学生学习的活动的知识基础，并最终通过STEM教育造福社会，促进科学和工程领域负责任的研究和实践。

This proof-of-concept project incorporates a student-centered problem-based learning technique in the General Chemistry curriculum to foster consideration of the interrelationships among chemistry, technology, and society. Case studies will be created for team-based analysis, discussion, and presentation in order to engage students in a critical analysis of environmental and economic implications of chemical decisions. This pedagogical approach places students in a central position in the educational process and enables them to practice decision making, exercise analytical thinking, assimilate different perspectives, develop habits of self-reflection, and enhance their communication skills. To extend the potential audience for the case studies, instructors representing at least seven different institutions will test the case study material. These instructors are involved in a broad range of introductory chemistry courses for students with a diversity of backgrounds and career aspirations. A compendium of case studies on current topical chemistry applications that involve the concepts traditionally presented in the general chemistry curriculum will be created. Materials to be developed for each case study include background reading; a written assignment to be completed prior to the exercise; a set of questions designed to guide a team of students through the key chemical, environmental, and economic aspects of the case study and assist them in approaching open-ended problems through increasingly complex steps; and a follow-up written assignment. Materials for enhancing faculty development in case study classroom management will also be prepared. The case study material and faculty development resources will be disseminated through publications and presentations to the chemical community and a textbook ancillary distributed through a commercial publisher. Additional pre- and post-case study exercises will be designed to establish an initial baseline of student performance, determine benchmarks of student performance throughout the course, and measure project outcomes.The project will contribute to the knowledge base of activities that enhance student learning and will ultimately benefit society through STEM education that fosters consideration of responsible research and practice in science and engineering.