An Alternative Educational Approach for an Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Course in Industrial and Chemical Engineering

Autor/inn/en	Garces, Andres; Sanchez-Barba, Luis Fernando
Titel	An Alternative Educational Approach for an Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Course in Industrial and Chemical Engineering
Quelle	In: Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 12 (2011) 1, S.101-113 (13 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1756-1108
DOI	10.1039/C1RP90013G
Schlagwörter	Feedback (Response); Dropout Prevention; Inorganic Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Science Laboratories; Industry; Teaching Methods; Science Experiments; Academic Standards; Academic Persistence; School Holding Power; Comparative Analysis; Lecture Method; Questionnaires; Satisfaction; Student Attitudes; College Science + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Anorganische Chemie; Chemisches Prüfverfahren; Industrie; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Fragebogen; Zufriedenheit; Schülerverhalten
Abstract	We describe an alternative educational approach for an inorganic chemistry laboratory module named "Experimentation in Chemistry", which is included in Industrial Engineering and Chemical Engineering courses. The main aims of the new approach were to reduce the high levels of failure and dropout on the module and to make the content match the "European Higher Education Area" criteria. This new method has been implemented and studied over three academic years, and a substantial increase in students success and satisfaction has been achieved, along with a marked reduction in the dropout rate. The effectiveness of the experience has been evaluated by considering the outcomes achieved before and after the implementation of the new approach. Results revealed an improvement in performance compared to previous years, after introducing the new learning approach into the module in 2005/06. These positive results have been firmly maintained in 2006/07 and 2007/08. The results obtained have been satisfactory even in the Industrial Engineering degree, despite the students' lack of previous specific Inorganic Chemistry lecture-based knowledge. A comparative study has also been carried out between the two types of student profile and similar excellent results were revealed, with only a few adjustments necessary for inclusion in the Industrial Engineering degree in order to compensate for a deficiency in previous Inorganic Chemistry knowledge. Module questionnaires for both degrees provide evidence for significant progress in terms of student satisfaction with subject content, methodology and performance feedback on adopting a different perspective on learning where students take on a clear active role. (Contains 9 tables and 4 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10