GEMS Sponsored COURSE REFORM CHEM 1212K (Spring 2005) and CHEM 1211 K (Fall 2005)

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GEMS SponsoredCOURSE REFORMCHEM 1212K (Spring
2005) andCHEM 1211 K (Fall 2005)

• Sharmistha Basu-Dutt
• Department of Chemistry

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Objectives of reform

• Show that knowledge of chemistry is relevant to
  the chemistry professional during lectures and
  laboratory activities
• Introduce inquiry activities and experiments to
  generate enthusiasm
• Reform the workshop component
• Survey student satisfaction in course

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Relevance of a Knowledge of Chemistry in Real
Life
REACTIONS MAY BE SLOW OR FAST
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Relevance of Chemistry Topics

• Why are Intermolecular Forces relevant to all
  SMET disciplines?
• Chemist
• Ethanol is highly soluble in water, but gasoline
  is not
• Diamond is hard but graphite is soft
• Biologist
• DNA, RNA, protein, cell membrane structure and
  function
• Physicist and computer scientist
• Liquid crystals and LCD - laptop computer screens
  act funny in hot or cold weather!!!
• Geologist
• Crystal structures and properties minerals in
  soil
• Ecologist
• Hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere global
  ecological balance due to unique properties of
  water
• Non-scientist
• You need to keep the water running in winter
  months
• Selecting soaps, shampoos, detergents
• Fire fighting

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Relevance of Chemistry Topics

• How is the topic on Acids and Bases relevant to
  SMET disciplines?
• Human physiology involves acids and bases
• Taste buds respond to acids (citrus fruits) and
  bases (dark chocolates) in food.
• Building blocks of (i) DNA and RNA are nucleic
  acids (ii) body fats are fatty acids (iii)
  proteins are amino acids.
• Carboxylic acid intermediates are formed in the
  Krebs cycle (metabolism of sugars to release
  energy).
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is necessary for the
  production of collagen (an essential protein in
  skin, bones and healing of wounds).
• Gastric juice (HCl) aid in digestion.
• Environmental issues
• Massive forest damage in Germany, Sweden have
  been caused by acid rain contamination of rain
  water with SO2 or NOx.
• Labels on batteries advise recycling - improper
  disposal may lead to acids leaching out and
  causing land pollution.
• Industrial applications
• Petroleum industry pharmaceuticals soaps and
  detergents explosives paints
• At home
• HCl used in swimming pools kill algae and aquatic
  pathogens
• NaOH (lye) used in oven cleaners and drain
  cleaners remove grease easily ammonia is used to
  clean glass

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Inquiry in Laboratory Activities

• Saving the Dehydrated Toddler at the Atlanta Zoo
  Using basic principles and concepts involved in
  making solutions and diluting solutions, students
  try to make up an appropriate saline solution to
  treat dehydration.
• Exploring the Heating Curve Using basic
  principles and concepts involved in phase changes
  and inter-molecular bonding, students explore the
  similarities and differences in the heating
  curves of water and an unknown liquid and use
  experimental heat capacity and enthalpy values to
  identify the unknown liquid.

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Reform the workshop format

• In this model, several groups of workshop
  students conduct an inquiry laboratory or problem
  solving activity using collaborative learning for
  the first 45 minutes. For the remaining time, a
  peer leader guides them through similar
  activities in smaller groups.

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Survey to assess student satisfaction

• Reformed Course Survey
• YOUR MAJOR________________________________________
  __________
• Please comment on the usefulness of the following
  components of the course
• The lecture portion of this course has
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your
  understanding of chemistry in general.
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your
  understanding of the relevance of chemistry in
  all science and engineering disciplines.
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your
  understanding of the relevance of chemistry in
  real life.
• The laboratory portion of this course have
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your
  understanding of the theoretical concepts in
  chemistry.
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your overall
  interest and enthusiasm in chemistry.
• INCREASED / DECREASED / NO CHANGE your overall
  interest and enthusiasm in the sciences and
  engineering.
• Based on your experience in this course, will
  you be
• INTERESTED / NOT INTERESTED to take another
  chemistry course.
• INTERESTED / NOT INTERESTED to take another
  science course.
• INTERESTED / NOT INTERESTED in a career in
  Chemistry.
• INTERESTED / NOT INTERESTED in a career in the
  sciences and engineering.
• Compare your experience in this course with other
  Chemistry courses you have taken.
• BETTER / WORSE / SAME as High School Chemistry
• BETTER / WORSE / SAME as CHEM 1211K

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Survey Results for Lecture Component
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Survey Results for Laboratory Experience
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Survey Results for Overall Experience
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Survey Results for GEMS
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Grade Distribution
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Gender and Ethnicity of Students Impacted by the
Reform