Enhancing Student Learning by Incorporating X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

这个跨学科的项目使学生对光谱学、化学鉴定及其在实际问题中的应用有了更深入的了解。该项目将x射线荧光（XRF）光谱学纳入课程的许多领域，包括历史、艺术、核心课程、在职教育课程和化学课程，重点是为学生提供动手实验经验。接触该仪器的范围很广，包括化学、历史和艺术专业的学生，在职的初中和高中教师，以及非科学专业的学生。许多实验应用于学生在历史钱币学、艺术修复、法医学、环境化学、纳米技术和过程控制等领域的职业兴趣。智力优势：该项目的前提是，将新技术注入实验室和课程设置，可以培养更有科学素养的公众。实验的目的是让学生既动手接触和理论背景信息。这种方法允许非理科生在体验设置中受益于这种技术，以了解科学家如何解决分析问题。化学专业的学生正在接触一种令人兴奋的技术，这种技术被广泛应用于工业以及许多扩展和新颖的研究领域。该项目与该机构最近开展的纳米技术计划很好地结合在一起，并允许在分析、无机和物理化学、地质学和本科研究等课程中注入额外的、持续的和广泛的纳米技术。这项研究的结果正在科学界和非科学界通过实验的改编、实施和出版向公众传播。更广泛的影响：该项目增加了对XRF及其在广泛的科学和非科学经验中应用于科学问题的理解。学生们将有机会参与到一个跨学科的项目中，这个项目将那些在课程和实验室改进方面没有合作历史的学科结合在一起。该项目允许在社区中进行重要的跨学科互动，包括历史-化学-艺术项目，以及通过与在职初中和高中教师互动进入当地学校系统。这种跨学科的互动可以作为其他大学理学院与非理学院之间合作的典范。该机构致力于为所有阶层的人口提供优质教育。在化学专业每年开设的15个专业中，57%是女性，23%是非裔美国人。对社会的进一步影响是通过提高对光谱学在识别和解决实际问题中的作用的理解。在这个项目中，通过展示在科学和非科学环境下在整个机构中使用XRF光谱来实现这一目标，最终在公共研讨会上阐明XRF对社区的影响。

Chemistry (12)This interdisciplinary project is giving students a greater understanding of spectroscopy, chemical identification and its application to real problems. The project is incorporating X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy into many areas of the curriculum, including history, art, core courses, in-service education courses, and chemistry courses by focusing on hands-on laboratory experiences for students. Exposure to the instrument is broad, affecting chemistry, history, and art majors, in-service middle and high school teachers, as well as non-science majors. Many experiments have applications to the career interests of students in the areas of historical numismatics, art restoration, forensics, environmental chemistry, nanotechnology, and process control. Intellectual Merit: The project stands on the premise that the infusion of new technology into laboratory and course settings produces a more scientifically literate public. Experiments are designed to give students both hands-on exposure and theoretical background information. This approach allows non-science students to benefit from exposure to this technique in an experiential setting to see how scientists solve analysis problems. Chemistry majors are being exposed to an exciting technique that is widely used in industry as well as many expanded and novel areas of research. This project interfaces nicely with recent nanotechnology initiatives undertaken at the institution, and allows for additional, continued and broad based nanotechnology infusion into courses such as analytical, inorganic, and physical chemistry, geology, and undergraduate research. Results from this study are being disseminated to the public via adaptation, implementation, and publication of experiments throughout the scientific and non-scientific community. Broader Impacts: The project increases the understanding of XRF and its applications to scientific problems across a broad range of science and non-science experiences. Students are being provided with opportunities to be involved with an interdisciplinary program that brings together disciplines that do not have a history of collaborating on curriculum and laboratory improvements. The project allows for significant interdisciplinary interactions in the community, including history-chemistry-art projects as well as reaching into the local school system by interacting with in-service middle and high school teachers. This interdisciplinary interaction can serve as a model for the collaboration between science and non-science departments at other universities. The institution is committed to quality education for all segments of the population. Of the chemistry program's 15 majors per year, 57% are female and 23% are African-American. A further impact on society is through increased understanding of the role of spectroscopy in identifying and solving real problems. This is achieved in this project by showcasing the use of XRF spectroscopy across the institution within science and non-science settings, culminating in a public symposium elucidating the impact of XRF on the community.