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

由于人们发现，探究性实验室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，因此洛拉斯学院修改了向本科生教授科学的方式。小型的、以发现为基础的课堂已经取代了大型的、讲座式的课堂，不仅适用于生物、化学和工程专业，也适用于通识教育项目的必修课。具体来说，购买1)12台笔记本电脑兼容的实验室工作站，配备紫外-可见或可见-近红外分光光度计和2)4台FT-IR光谱仪，增加了学生探究性和项目性实验室体验的数量和种类。有19项实验是根据现代最佳实践来源改编的。11个基于发现的新实验正在开发中，还有21个传统实验正在使用这些仪器。该项目的影响：每年有9个学院的18个班级为180名通识教育学生和300名理工科学生提供服务；在四年的时间里，超过一半的洛拉斯学院的学生。该项目的成功与否将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)采用内部和外部审查员的程序审查机制，3)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.