Event Information
Dave Yaron
(Carnegie Mellon University)
Virtual Labs and Scenario-Based Learning for Introductory Chemistry
Departmental Seminar
Virtual Labs and Scenario-Based Learning for Introductory Chemistry
- Abstract:
- We will discuss technologies that address two main learning challenges in introductory chemistry (http://www.chemcollective.edu). The first challenge is helping students connect the algebra of the course with authentic chemistry. This is done through our virtual lab, a flexible Java applet that allows students to choose from hundreds of standard reagents and manipulate them in a manner that resembles that of a real lab. The lab couples the paper-and-pencil activities of the current course with activities that involve chemical manipulations and experimental design. The second learning challenge is bridging chemical knowledge with the real world. Our scenario activities imbed course concepts in real world applications. A principled design of these scenarios has revealed fundamental misalignments between what we currently teach in chemistry and what students need to know to be informed citizens or to take later courses. Our design process has also revealed areas where important!
information remains implicit and is likely to be discovered only by the highest performing students. We will discuss ways in which introductory courses may be redesigned to better meet the needs of students.
Host: David Beratan
Departmental Seminar