The Postsecondary Inorganic Chemistry Instructional Laboratory Curriculum: Results from a National Survey

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Postsecondary Inorganic Chemistry Instructional Laboratory Curriculum: Results from a National Survey
Language: English
Authors: Jeffrey R. Raker (ORCID 0000-0003-3715-6095), Justin M. Pratt (ORCID 0000-0002-8159-4394), Megan C. Connor, Sheila R. Smith (ORCID 0000-0003-3805-981X), Joanne L. Stewart (ORCID 0000-0002-3520-1430), Barbara A. Reisner (ORCID 0000-0003-3160-0351), Anne K. Bentley (ORCID 0000-0003-1353-6042), Shirley Lin (ORCID 0000-0001-8085-5006), Chip Nataro (ORCID 0000-0003-0439-9218)
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. 2022 99(5):1971-1981.
Availability: Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Higher Education
Descriptors: Postsecondary Education, College Science, Organic Chemistry, Science Instruction, Science Curriculum, Science Laboratories, Laboratory Training, Teaching Methods, Science Process Skills, Curriculum Design
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00092
ISSN: 0021-9584
1938-1328
Abstract: A national survey of chemists (n = 174) explored the self-reported format and focus of postsecondary inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory curricula. Multiple instructional laboratory course formats were observed, including stand-alone inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory courses, inorganic chemistry laboratory instruction as a component of a multidisciplinary instructional laboratory course, and the absence of an inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory experience. Additionally, the types of synthetic, characterization, and purification methods, as well as the professional skills addressed in the surveyed courses, varied greatly. The results of this work have direct implications as a "current state of the curriculum" description for inorganic chemistry educators designing and revising instructional laboratory courses. Additionally, these results speak to (1) the need for professional organizations to reinforce the importance of postsecondary inorganic chemistry in the chemistry major curriculum, (2) the demand for quality curricular materials that are easily adaptable to multiple instructional laboratory contexts, and (3) the call for further research on how the inorganic chemistry (and broader chemistry) instructional curriculum is enacted.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1441693
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:A national survey of chemists (n = 174) explored the self-reported format and focus of postsecondary inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory curricula. Multiple instructional laboratory course formats were observed, including stand-alone inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory courses, inorganic chemistry laboratory instruction as a component of a multidisciplinary instructional laboratory course, and the absence of an inorganic chemistry instructional laboratory experience. Additionally, the types of synthetic, characterization, and purification methods, as well as the professional skills addressed in the surveyed courses, varied greatly. The results of this work have direct implications as a "current state of the curriculum" description for inorganic chemistry educators designing and revising instructional laboratory courses. Additionally, these results speak to (1) the need for professional organizations to reinforce the importance of postsecondary inorganic chemistry in the chemistry major curriculum, (2) the demand for quality curricular materials that are easily adaptable to multiple instructional laboratory contexts, and (3) the call for further research on how the inorganic chemistry (and broader chemistry) instructional curriculum is enacted.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00092