Upgrading the level of inquiry of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Practice

Posted by Csilla Kállay, on Oct. 6, 2022, 5:55 a.m.

Csilla Kallay

Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Hungary

 

Challenge and goal

Analytical Chemistry Laboratory practice involves acid-base, redox, argentometric and complexometric titrations. The aim of the practice is to gain experience in basic analytical techniques, their implementation and the evaluation of experimental results.

The work in this laboratory is ‘guided discovery’: the students work on their own experiment (unknown samples). The problem is clearly identified; define the content of the unknown sample. The work is driven by step-by step instructions.

The challenge is to improve this kind of work to ‘guided inquiry’ or ‘bounded inquiry’.

Topic of the user case

Upgrading the level of inquiry of the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Practice

Local context (specific)

The Department of Inorganic Chemistry of University of Debrecen is involved in teaching Analytical Chemistry Laboratory practice Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering BSc students. 40-50 Hungarian and 50 foreign students register annually for this course. The curse is organized for 14 weeks, 4 hours/week.

The user case helps in making the lab practices more interesting and teaches the students for critical thinking.

Local CPD goals

This user case will help instructors in the Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering BSc program to be able to:

  • improve design of the courses in which they are involved
  • upgrade the level of inquiries of courses

Needs defined in STEM-CPD Roadmap

Competences
18 design problem solving sessions
22 use research based teaching methods
12 design laboratory courses
Attitudes
Activities
4 attending hands-on workshops on specific continuous professional development (CPD) topics.
11 collaborating with a peer-lecturer on a redesign of a course.

CPD activities at the local university

- Short trainings

Teaching and learning materials

- Supporting materials, lab manual

- Collaborative platforms (eg. Microsoft Teams)

 

Sustainable implementation

 

Expected impact of the CPD User Case

 

Plans for eventual continuation of the CPD within the same topic

 

Problem solving (design and teaching), Engagement and motivation, facilitation discipline specific learning (type P1-3a, P1-3b)

This CPD scenario describes a User case in which lecturers develop their competence in facilitating problem solving and how to engage and motivate students and how to facilitate discipline specific thinking.
In this CPD scenario the participants are using a very short open online course, a micro mooc (μmooc) and professionalize in a close connection to their own teaching practice (at their workplace) and meet in person on location with the training staff and with other participants.

Learning environment
μMOOCs
Workplace
Face-to-face
Time

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