Transforming Student Learning in Chemistry
PKAL 2002 Summer Institute - Cluster II
June 2 - June 5, 2002

Workshop Abstract

The National Science Foundation funded a series of major initiatives directed at the systemic reform of undergraduate chemistry. These projects ChemConnections (ModularCHEM Consortium and ChemLinks Coalition), Molecular Science, New Traditions, and Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL, formerly The Workshop Project) are now mature and in their dissemination phase. The Multi-Initiative Dissemination (MID) Project (http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/~midp/) is a mechanism for the dissemination of these projects and will coordinate this workshop.

Faculty leaders from each of the projects will present the curricular materials and methods developed by their projects. While differing in their approaches, all of the projects focus on discovery-based, active learning. Each seeks to encourage a paradigm shift from faculty-centered teaching to student-centered learning as well as to provide students insights into the nature of science. This workshop is for faculty members in departments of chemistry–at schools large and small–who are seeking adaptable models to transform their lower level courses. It is also for faculty across the STEM disciplines who wish to gain knowledge about the efficacy of new pedagogical approaches–how they have been developed, implemented, and evaluated.

Specific issues to be addressed in this workshop include:

• Research-based modules for teaching and learning
• Assessment in the service of student learning
• Helping students make connections between the concepts of chemistry and real-world phenomena
• Helping students learn to reason through problems rather than relying on algorithmic solutions
• Introducing students to the process of doing science/chemistry so that they recognize its strengths and limitations
• Engaging students in learning to speak and write the "language" of chemistry/science?
• Getting students actively involved in discovery and inquiry processes

Sessions for this workshop include:

• The Active-Learning Experience: What Do We Know about Teaching and Learning?
• An Experience with the Molecular Science Module
• An Experience with the Peer-Led Team Learning Module
• An Experience with ChemConnections
• An Experience with the New Traditions Project
• Designing Assessments

Workshop Planners

Eileen Lewis, Workshop Leader, University of California Berkeley
Sandra Laursen, University of Colorado, Boulder
Gretchen Marcus, Goucher College
G. Earl Peace, Jr., College of the Holy Cross
Martin Perry, Ouachita Baptist
Brock Spencer, Beloit College
Timothy M. Su, University of California at Los Angeles
Pratibha Varma-Nelson, Saint Xavier University

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