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Talanquer V, Cole R, Rushton GT. Thinking and Learning in Nested Systems: The Classroom Level. J Chem Educ 2024; 101:295-306. [PMID: 38370573 PMCID: PMC10868584 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Teaching and learning in college chemistry classrooms is affected by a variety of structural and psychosocial factors that influence classroom dynamics. In this second part of a two-part perspective [Talanquer et al. J. Chem. Educ.10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00838], we review and discuss the results from research that has helped us understand the complex social and knowledge dynamics that emerge in interactive learning environments. We use this analysis to make explicit major insights about curriculum, instruction, assessment, teachers, and students gained in the past 25 years and to summarize their implications for chemistry education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Talanquer
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Renee Cole
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Gregory T. Rushton
- Tennessee
STEM Education Center, Middle Tennessee
State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37131, United States
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2
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Szozda A, Mahaffy PG, Flynn AB. Identifying Chemistry Students' Baseline Systems Thinking Skills When Constructing System Maps for a Topic on Climate Change. J Chem Educ 2023; 100:1763-1776. [PMID: 37186546 PMCID: PMC10173455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
New resources have recently been emerging for educators to implement systems thinking (ST) in chemistry education, including a proposed set of ST skills. While these efforts aim to make ST implementation easier, little is known about how to assess these skills in a chemistry context. In this study, we investigated ST skills employed by students who constructed system maps of a topic related to climate change. Eighteen undergraduate chemistry students from first- to third-year participated in this study. We designed and implemented a ST intervention to capture how students engaged with three ST tasks, performed individually and collaboratively. In our analysis, we focused on 11 ST skills that aligned with five characteristics proposed in a recent study. We found that participants demonstrated most of these ST skills when engaging with the ST tasks, with nuances. Participants' system maps: (1) lacked concepts and connections at the submicroscopic level, (2) included multiple types of connections but few circular loops and causal connections, (3) lacked causal reasoning, although participants did predict how their system maps changed over time, (4) demonstrated the breadth of connections but did not describe human connections to the underlying chemistry of climate change topics. These findings identify aspects of ST where chemistry educators need to place emphasis when teaching ST skills to chemistry students and when guiding learning activities and other assessments. Using our findings, we created an adaptable ST rubric for the chemistry community as a tool for assessing ST skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha
R. Szozda
- Department
of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Peter G. Mahaffy
- Department
of Chemistry and the King’s Centre for Visualization in Science, The King’s University, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2H3, Canada
| | - Alison B. Flynn
- Department
of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A7, Canada
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3
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Roshandel H, Shammami M, Lin S, Wong YP, Diaconescu PL. App-Free Method for Visualization of Polymers in 3D and Augmented Reality. J Chem Educ 2023; 100:2039-2044. [PMID: 37186541 PMCID: PMC10173869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c01131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The rise of virtual and online education in recent years has led to the development and popularization of many online tools, notably three-dimensional (3D) models and augmented reality (AR), for visualizing various structures in chemical sciences. The majority of the developed tools focus on either small molecules or biological systems, as information regarding their structure can be easily accessed from online databases or obtained through relatively quick calculations. As such, due to a lack of crystallographic and theoretical data available for nonbiological macromolecules, there is a noticeable lack of accessible online tools for the visualization of polymers in 3D. Herein, using a few sample polymers, we showcase a workflow for the generation of 3D models using molecular dynamics and Blender. The 3D structures can then be hosted on p3d.in, where AR models can be generated automatically. Furthermore, the hosted 3D models can then be shared via quick response (QR) codes and used in various settings without the need to download any applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hootan Roshandel
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Matthew Shammami
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Shiyun Lin
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Yin-Pok Wong
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Paula L. Diaconescu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- E-mail:
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Montgomery TD, Buchbinder JR, Gawalt ES, Iuliucci RJ, Koch AS, Kotsikorou E, Lackey PE, Lim MS, Rohde JJ, Rupprecht AJ, Srnec MN, Vernier B, Evanseck JD. The Scientific Method as a Scaffold to Enhance Communication Skills in Chemistry. J Chem Educ 2022; 99:2338-2350. [PMID: 35722631 PMCID: PMC9202561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scientific success in the field of chemistry depends upon the mastery of a wide range of soft skills, most notably scientific writing and speaking. However, training for scientific communication is typically limited at the undergraduate level, where students struggle to express themselves in a clear and logical manner. The underlying issue is deeper than basic technical skills; rather, it is a problem of students' unawareness of a fundamental and strategic framework for writing and speaking with a purpose. The methodology has been implemented for individual mentorship and in our regional summer research program to deliver a blueprint of thought and reasoning that endows students with the confidence and skills to become more effective communicators. Our didactic process intertwines undergraduate research with the scientific method and is partitioned into six steps, referred to as "phases", to allow for focused and deep thinking on the essential components of the scientific method. The phases are designed to challenge the student in their zone of proximal development so they learn to extract and ultimately comprehend the elements of the scientific method through focused written and oral assignments. Students then compile their newly acquired knowledge to create a compelling and logical story, using their persuasive written and oral presentations to complete a research proposal, final report, and formal 20 min presentation. We find that such an approach delivers the necessary guidance to promote the logical framework that improves writing and speaking skills. Over the past decade, we have witnessed both qualitative and quantitative gains in the students' confidence in their abilities and skills (developed by this process), preparing them for future careers as young scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Montgomery
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne
University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Joanne Rae Buchbinder
- Department
of Educational Studies, St. Mary’s
College of Maryland, 47645 College Drive, St. Mary’s City, Maryland 20686, United States
| | - Ellen S. Gawalt
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne
University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Robbie J. Iuliucci
- Department
of Chemistry, Washington and Jefferson College, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301, United States
| | - Andrew S. Koch
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St. Mary’s
College of Maryland, 18952 E. Fisher Drive, St. Mary’s City, Maryland 20686, United States
| | - Evangelia Kotsikorou
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas Rio Grande
Valley, 1201 W University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United
States
| | - Patrick E. Lackey
- Department
of Chemistry, Westminster College, 319 S Market Street, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 16172, United States
| | - Min Soo Lim
- Department
of Chemistry, Slippery Rock University of
Pennsylvania, 1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057, United States
| | - Jeffrey Joseph Rohde
- Department
of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering, Franciscan University of Steubenville, 1235 University Blvd., Steubenville, Ohio 43952, United States
| | - Alexander J. Rupprecht
- Department
of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Concord University, 1000 Vermillion Street, Athens, West Virginia 24712, United States
| | - Matthew N. Srnec
- Department
of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering, Franciscan University of Steubenville, 1235 University Blvd., Steubenville, Ohio 43952, United States
| | - Brandon Vernier
- Department
of Natural Science, Bethune-Cookman University, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Evanseck
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne
University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Birchall LT, Shehata S, Serpell CJ, Clark ER, Biagini SCG. Himic Anhydride: A Retro Diels-Alder Reaction for the Organic Laboratory and an Accompanying NMR Study. J Chem Educ 2021; 98:4013-4016. [PMID: 34924600 PMCID: PMC8675133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The thermal equilibration of himic anhydride [IUPAC (2-endo,3-endo)-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride] to (2-exo,3-exo)-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride and subsequent recrystallization of the exo-product can be performed as a standard undergraduate laboratory experiment requiring minimal equipment. The interpretation of the 1H NMR spectra for these norbornene carboxylic anhydride molecules promotes an appreciation of constrained ring systems and factors that affect chemical shifts and coupling constants.
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