Building Instrumental Competence to Support Student Independence in the Laboratory

Gustavus Adolphus学院化学系正在进行一个项目，旨在转移教学重点，将学生仪器使用的渐进式方法包括在内，特别是在本科课程的头两年。在一年级和二年级的化学课程中，项目的实施以动手使用GC-MS和ICPMS、IR、UV/VIS、荧光和核磁共振光谱仪为中心。实施这种渐进式方法的一个关键因素是获得一台具有自动采样能力的400 MHz光谱仪，以促进在本科早期化学课程中纳入核磁共振的使用。另一个关键因素是制定一个评估制度，以指导实施和衡量干预措施对学生独立研究准备情况的影响。为了研究研究对学生的影响，该项目利用了课堂本科生研究体验(CURE)调查以及一份单独的问卷，考察了学生在研究中的信心、实验设计和解决问题的能力，以及学生参与的本科生研究的数量。此外，学生的理解力正在通过实验室进行评估，并将对选课模式和入学情况进行审查。外部评估员正在协助一个内部发展小组制定这些措施的有效性，评估员正在审查机构数据以及审查其他评估方法。传播包括通过中部州科学和数学联盟为13所高等教育机构的教职员工举办和实施讲习班，在地方和国家本科生科学教育论坛上发表演讲，以及在化学教育场所发表论文。

The chemistry department at Gustavus Adolphus College is engaged in a project to shift its pedagogical focus to include a graduated approach to student instrument usage, particularly in the first two years of the undergraduate curriculum. Project implementation in freshman and sophomore chemistry courses centers around hands-on use of GC-MS and ICP-MS, IR, UV/Vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectrometers. A key element of implementing this graduated approach is the acquisition of a 400 MHz spectrometer with autosampling capability to facilitate the incorporation of NMR usage through the early undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Another key element is the development of an assessment system to guide the implementation and to measure the impact of the intervention on students' readiness for independent research. In order to study the impact on students, the project is making use of the Classroom Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) survey as well as a separate questionnaire exploring confidence, experimental design and problem-solving abilities in research, and the amount of undergraduate research in which the students are engaged. In addition, students' understanding is being assessed via a lab practical and course-taking patterns and enrollment will be examined. External evaluators are facilitating an internal development team to develop the validity of these measures and the evaluators are examining institutional data as well as reviewing the other assessment approaches. Dissemination includes the development and implementation of a workshop through the Midstates Consortium of Science and Math for faculty of 13 higher education institutions, presentations at local and national undergraduate science education forums, and papers published in chemical education venues.