Modernizing the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory: The Design and Implementation of a Modular Protein-Centered Course

Autor/inn/en	Smythers, Amanda L.; Ford, Megan M.; Hawkins, Dakota G.; Connor, Megan C.; Lawrence, Kylie C.; Stanton, Caroline R.; Gayton, Alton C.; Hicks, Leslie M.
Titel	Modernizing the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory: The Design and Implementation of a Modular Protein-Centered Course
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 98 (2021) 5, S.1645-1652 (8 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Smythers, Amanda L.) ORCID (Connor, Megan C.) ORCID (Hicks, Leslie M.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
DOI	10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c01269
Schlagwörter	Undergraduate Students; College Science; Chemistry; Scientific Research; Science Laboratories; Laboratory Procedures; Laboratory Experiments; Discovery Learning; Conferences (Gatherings); Science Process Skills; Self Efficacy; Scientific Concepts + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Chemie; Laboruntersuchung; Laboratory work; Laborarbeit; Entdeckendes Lernen; Self-efficacy; Selbstwirksamkeit
Abstract	Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) integrate authentic research into undergraduate chemistry laboratories, introducing students to research while simultaneously reinforcing fundamental concepts. Despite their ubiquitous nature in bioanalytical research, few CUREs have been published applying the fundamental techniques of separations, spectroscopy, quantification, and mass spectrometry. To engage students in learning these increasingly essential bioanalytical techniques, we designed and implemented a semester-long project-based course centered around the purification, quantification, and identification of heterologously expressed proteins in five succinct and adaptable modules. Instructors can use these modules to form the foundation of a CURE specific to their research interests. The extensive commercial availability of plasmids for transformation combined with the modular approach to laboratory experiments enables convenient customization to accommodate diverse research goals. Instructors can tailor the modules to meet the curricular requirements and instrumentation capabilities of their institutions and can easily extend the research goals to incorporate more specialized analytical techniques, as needed. Through the implementation of the five modules, students apply the fundaments of acid-base chemistry, statistics, quantification strategies, spectrophotometry, separations, and mass spectrometry, thus covering the material required in most undergraduate introductory analytical courses. Instructors can then use these modules as a backbone to support student-led discovery-based investigations for the remainder of the course. Students demonstrate their understanding through the completion of a comprehensive, publication-style laboratory report as well as a poster presentation at a university-wide undergraduate research symposium. Since first offering this course in 2016, student evaluations have been exceedingly positive, with over 75% of students indicating that the course both increased their scientific skills as well as their confidence in their ability to succeed in further science courses. Furthermore, 22% of students reported they were "much more" or "extremely more" likely to enroll in a Ph.D. program in science, math, or engineering following the courses, emphasizing the impact that project-based laboratories can have on undergraduate chemists' career trajectories. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	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
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01