Evans' Method Calculator

Submitted by Brad Wile / Ohio Northern University on Fri, 06/26/2020 - 13:35
Description

A spreadsheet hosted on Pete Wolczanski's webpage for calculating (mu)effective

Pre-Modern Chemistry: A Brief World History

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 10:40
Description

This Powerpoint presentation was developed to support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the chemistry classroom. One of the challenges of modern chemistry (and other modern STEM fields) is that the history discussed in general chemistry textbooks often focuses on achievements by Western scientists. While the most prominent chemists in the area of modern atomic theory were privileged, Western white men, their ideas were influenced by centuries of chemistry practiced by peoples across the globe.

Identity and Chemistry with Uncle Tungsten

Submitted by Nancy Williams / Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 19:12
Description

I have taught the book Uncle Tungsten: Memoirs of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks in my Inorganic Chemistry course for juniors and seniors for a decade, but the way I teach the book has dramatically changed in recent years.

The book is a (somewhat nostalgic and bittersweet) recollection of Sacks' childhood and his early experiments in inorganic chemistry, and initially we read it on that basis. However, Sacks also talks (even in the first chapter) about his family's identities as "people who do science" and his identity as a Jewish child in 1940s Britain.

Fostering a Growth Mindset: Inspiring Belief

Submitted by Anne Bentley / Lewis & Clark College on Tue, 06/09/2020 - 13:25
Description

I developed this short class component in response to reading Saundra Yancy McGuire’s book, “Teach Students How to Learn.”  One chapter focuses on the importance of mindset, a concept developed by Carole Dweck. Students with a growth mindset believe that they can learn how to learn challenging material, while students with fixed mindsets believe that ability is innate and unchangeable.

How to write a (good) paper

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 04/29/2020 - 17:50
Description

This came through my twitter feed today and I thought I would share. I'm linking to McNeil's "Resources" page which has a lot of useful info, but I am specifically talking about the "How to Write a Paper" pdf docuemnt that came from her group taking a few group meetings to discuss what made a good paper. I think this is definitely someting I will keep in mind as I work on my writing this summer!

Schlenk Line Survival guide

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Mon, 04/06/2020 - 14:11
Description

I feel like I've shared this resource before but I couldn't find it so maybe it will stick this time :)

This is a good resource created by "Dr. Andryj Borys, a main-group chemist, phosphorus fanatic and Schlenk line enthusiast." He is currently a postdoc in Canada, headed back to Europe in 2020 (supposedly..)

this resource describes the use of a Schlenk line in quite a bit of detail, with a variety of standard applications (cannula transfer, sealing NMR tubes).

Handling Air Sensitive Reagents and Working with a Schlenk Line (the COVID19 version)

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 13:18
Description

One of the features of the laboratory associated with my Inorganic chemistry course is learning to do some air sensitive chemistry using Schlenk lines (and sometimes gloveboxes).  Of course, COVID19 is keeping us out of the lab this year!  This is a collection of short web based resources (text and video) detailing begining use of a Schlenk line, something about drying and degassing solvents, and transferring liquids to a reaction flask.  It is accompanied by questions I am having students answer as part of the alternate lab I am creating in place of our usual organometallic lab experiemnt.

iPad Screen Recording

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:46
Description

Many faculty and students now have iPads and Apple Pencils for use in their classes. At Merrimack, we have a 1:1 iPad program (called Mobile Merrimack) in which all students and faculty are provided an iPad and students are also given an Apple Pencil and a keyboard.

Marvin suite from ChemAxon

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Thu, 01/09/2020 - 12:10
Description

It is important for students to be able to effectively communicate the results of their scientific work. This does not only inlcude written and oral communication, but the creation of appropriate representations of the complexes they have investigated. It is crucial that students learn how to draw molecules using electronic structure drawing programs, but site licenses for structure drawing programs can be prohibitive for some institutions.