SLiThEr #53: Beyond Lecture - Helping Students Get and Stay on the Alternative Pedagogy Bus
Description
Self-Paced Student Activity on Effective Studying and Learning Approaches
Description
This activity is a self-paced student activity focused on learning effective studying and learning approaches. The activity is broken into six steps/parts:
Collaborative Point Group "Escape Room" Competition
Description
This is a digital "escape room" where students determine point groups of molecules and answer follow-up questions to determine four digits. The four digits can be used to unlock a physical lockbox which is brought to class with small prizes inside.
SLiThEr #50: Experiential Learning in Large Lecture Chemistry Courses: Mission Impossible
Description
The idea of providing experiential learning experiences in lecture sections of 150+ students can seem impossible. While more traditional internships or field work may be out of reach with these enrollments, less traditional, but still impactful options exist. We will discuss the general idea of experiential learning and provide some examples of how we have incorporated this idea into our general and inorganic courses, addressing both content and the course structure and support that can be helpful.
SLiThEr #51: Chemistry Applications of Desmos
Description
Inorganic Chemistry
Description
Rigorous treatment of the chemistry of inorganic compounds, including structure, properties, and reactions, and their interpretation in terms of quantum chemistry, and solid state chemistry; analysis with modern instrumentation.
A Strategy for Group Discussions of a Literature Paper: Roles That Rotate and Foster Different Skills
Description
The "Lit Masters" concept is inspired by and adapted from one of my colleagues, Jenn Manak, in our education department. Students who are novices to reading the literature often are overwhelmed when assigned a paper to read and may struggle in group discussions. The strategy is to assign students to a semester-long group with designated roles for each paper that require them to produce a low-stakes artifact prior to class. During class time groups discuss the paper and it is followed with a debrief.
SLiThEr #46: Results from a departmental climate survey
Description
In this SLiThEr, we discuss the construction, implementation and results of a departmental climate survey. Included with the LO are the questions that were administered to students as part of the climate survey.
SLiThEr #45 on Teaching f-block Chemistry
Description
Patrick Barber (The University of West Florida) demonstrates strategies to teach f-block chemistry to undergraduates.
SLiThEr #43: A bridge to specifications grading
Description
Have you heard about alternate grading systems such as specifications (specs) grading, but don't think you have the time or energy to remake a whole curriculum? Come hear about a hybrid-points-specs grading system! The hybrid system does not require a complete course redesign, but still integrates standards-based grading practices that promote mastery of material and make grading easier. Implementation and outcomes in general chemistry and inorganic chemistry classes is discussed.