Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar: Designing Effective Teaching Tools
Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar
Designing Effective Teaching Tools. How Do I Know if Students are Learning?
Dr. Tina Goudreau Collison
Professor of Chemistry & Materials Science
School of Chemistry and Materials Science, RIT
This seminar may only be attended in person in 2300 Gosnell Hall.
Abstract:
Reformed Experimental Activities (REActivities) is a guided-inquiry lab pedagogy that transforms the commonplace 3- and 4-hour organic lab periods into powerful lab experiences dedicated to enhancing student engagement, analyzing observations, and honing lab skills with minimal lab instructor training. Improving student performance in organic chemistry and enhancing student confidence relative to organic lab skills were central to the creation of these lab materials. Students are guided through a continuous cycle of observation, reasoning, and experiment during each REActivity. This presentation showcases our preliminary findings when implementing REActivities across multiple universities and different instructors, and how this data is informing the evolution of the guided questions. Our study aims to ensure that students make easier transitions between each level of thinking during the organic lab: macroscopic, sub-microscopic, and symbolic (Johnstone's Triangle).
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Tina Goudreau Collison earned her BA in Chemistry from Colby College. She conducted undergraduate research with Dr. Bradford Mundy and was inspired to pursue a PhD in organic chemistry so she could head to academia. She earned her MS and PhD in Organic Synthesis at the University of Rochester under the mentorship of Dr. Robert K. Boeckman, Jr. She is now a professor of chemistry at RIT teaching primarily organic chemistry since 2003. Her research interests fall largely in Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER), a growing area nationally as well as at RIT. DBER combines not only the knowledge of the STEM discipline one is studying but also incorporates psychology and statistical analysis. Dr. Goudreau also continues to guide a small wet chemistry research lab dedicated to training students in organic synthesis and focuses on the construction of small novel molecules used to student medicine transfer across cell membranes.
Intended Audience:
Undergraduates, graduates, experts. Those with interest in the topic.
To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
This is an RIT Only Event
Interpreter Requested?
No