Learning environment in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses in Beirut

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 08-20
Author(s):  
Hanan Arnous ◽  
Zalpha Ayoubi
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Private University ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Environment ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Courses ◽  
Chemistry Learning ◽  
Material Environment

The undergraduate chemistry laboratory is an ideal place for meaningful learning to occur, and the laboratory work is considered as an integral part of most chemistry courses; however, a significant proportion of laboratory experiments remain highly prescriptive and fail to challenge undergraduate students. This study investigated the chemistry laboratory environment among 170 undergraduate students at a private university in Beirut, Lebanon. Data were collected using the Chemistry Laboratory Environment Inventory with its both versions: Actual Chemistry Laboratory Environment Inventory and Preferred Chemistry Laboratory Environment Inventory. The findings of this study showed that the students prefer a chemistry learning environment with greater levels of integration and material environment, but less level of open-endedness. Suggestions for improving chemistry laboratory learning environments are provided. Keywords: Chemistry, laboratory, undergraduate courses, learning environment.  

Students’ perceptions of a project-based Organic Chemistry laboratory environment: a phenomenographic approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 811-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita L. Burrows ◽  
Montana K. Nowak ◽  
Suazette R. Mooring
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Environment ◽  
Laboratory Courses ◽  
Outcome Space ◽  
Undergraduate Laboratory ◽  
Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Students can perceive the laboratory environment in a variety of ways that can affect what they take away from the laboratory course. This qualitative study characterizes undergraduate students’ perspectives of a project-based Organic Chemistry laboratory using the theoretical framework of phenomenography. Eighteen participants were interviewed in a semi-structured format to collect their perspectives of the Organic Chemistry lab. Eight qualitatively different ways in which students perceived the lab were uncovered and an outcome space was derived. The findings of this work are intended to inform the design of the undergraduate laboratory curriculum in chemistry that facilitate better student learning. Implications and suggestions for design of laboratory courses based on the results of this work are also presented.

Video episodes and action cameras in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory: eliciting student perceptions of meaningful learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli R. Galloway ◽  
Stacey Lowery Bretz
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Meaningful Learning ◽  
Affective Learning ◽  
The Self ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
Affective Experiences

A series of quantitative studies investigated undergraduate students' perceptions of their cognitive and affective learning in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory. To explore these quantitative findings, a qualitative research protocol was developed to characterize student learning in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory. Students (N= 13) were observed and video recorded while performing one of their assigned laboratory experiments. Each student wore an action camera as well as a lapel microphone attached to a voice recorder to capture the experiment from the students' perspective. A tripod camera was also placed unobtrusively in the lab to record the student from a third person perspective. Students were interviewed within 48 hours of their video recording and asked to identify specific learning experiences in their laboratory experiment. The self-selected video episodes were shown to the students, and they were asked to describe what they were doing and why they were doing it. The students' descriptions were analyzed using Novak's theory of meaningful learning to characterize their cognitive and affective experiences. The self-identified learning experiences were dominated by descriptions of psychomotor learning with few students discussing cognitive experiences. The limited connections between cognitive and affective experiences revealed missed opportunities for meaningful learning.

scholarly journals Improving learning outcomes from the undergraduate chemistry laboratory

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Georg Seland ◽  
Inger Johanne Fjellanger ◽  
Kristine Spildo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Courses ◽  
The University

The paper describes how to improve and evaluate learning outcomes in writing and critical thinking in the laboratory courses in the Bachelor program in Chemistry at the University of Bergen.  The suggested changes are based on research that show that these learning outcomes are improved when the students are involved in self-assessment, where they perform peer-review and are encouraged to reflect on their own learning experience. This process needs to be accompanied with systematic and frequent feedback.  It is also crucial to establish formal collegial groups where one can maintain systematic discussion regarding teaching in the laboratory courses. Suggested changes, and how they can be evaluated, are described in detail for two of the five mandatory laboratory courses in the program.

scholarly journals DIFFICULTIES OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-81
Author(s):  
Maria Gabriela Lorenzo ◽  
Ana Maria Reverdito ◽  
Mercedes Blanco ◽  
Alejandra Salerno
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Learning Difficulties ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Environment ◽  
Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Experimental work supposes a unique opportunity to learn procedural contents. However, the conditions and constraints to learn procedures have not been sufficiently discussed or investigated in a laboratory environment. Students` difficulties in organic chemistry laboratory at university are described and explained. A case study (n=15 undergraduate students) was performed. The study was carried out in an actual laboratory class, using different ways for data gathering: 1) A comparison between declarative knowledge of students about experimental work and observations of procedures in class. 2) An evaluation of the effect of laboratory work on the knowledge of students related with the assembly of the apparatus. This research suggests that students’ difficulties in performing experimental work are deeply related to a deficient interrelationship between conceptual and methodological frameworks. Key words: experimental work, learning difficulties, organic chemistry laboratory, procedural contents, university.

Towards Automation of Manual Operations in a High School Chemistry Laboratory

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor M. Verner ◽  
Leonid B. Revzin
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
High School Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Practice ◽  
Laboratory Environment ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Positive Learning Environment ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Automated Titration

This paper proposes a learning environment in which manual operations of school chemistry laboratory experiments, such as titration and aliquoting, are automated by means of computer controlled devices. The educational study focuses on characteristics of learning in the automated laboratory environment. Pilot teaching indicated that using automation devices significantly reduces the performance time of titration laboratory work. The students also noted that automated titration experiments are more simple and accurate. Therefore, automation of manual operations in laboratory practice has been found to provide a very positive learning environment.

A Case Study on Web-based Learning Environment Evaluation in Higher Education: Learner Perspectives in a Private University in Malaysia.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Zarina Che Imbi ◽  
Tse-Kian Neo ◽  
Mai Neo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Private University ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Web Based Learning ◽  
Kirkpatrick’S Model

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick's model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick's model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education.

Integrating Disciplines in a Plant Chemistry Laboratory Module to Enhance Interdisciplinary and Scientific Thinking in Undergraduate Students

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Busta ◽  
Sabrina E. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Scientific Thinking ◽  
Written Communication ◽  
Plant Chemistry ◽  
Hands On

Here, we describe a hands-on medicinal plant chemistry laboratory module (Phytochemical Laboratory Activities for iNtegrative Thinking and Enhanced Competencies; PLANTEC) for undergraduates that targets the development of core competencies in (i) critical thinking and analysis of text and data, (ii) interdisciplinary and systems thinking, (iii) oral and written communication of science, and (iv) teamwork and collaboration.<br>

Developing and Implementing a Specifications Grading System in an Organic Chemistry Laboratory Course

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Howitz ◽  
Kate J. McKnelly ◽  
Renee Link
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Grading System ◽  
Traditional Grading ◽  
Final Grade ◽  
Laboratory Courses ◽  
Lower Division ◽  
Collaborative Learning Environment ◽  
Organic Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Grade Uncertainty

<p>Large, multi-section laboratory courses are particularly challenging when managing grading with as many as 35 teaching assistants (TAs). Traditional grading systems using point-based rubrics lead to significant variations in how individual TAs grade, which necessitates the use of curving across laboratory sections. Final grade uncertainty perpetuates student anxieties and disincentivizes a collaborative learning environment, so we adopted an alternative grading system, called specifications grading. In this system each student knows exactly what level of proficiency they must demonstrate to earn their desired course grade. Higher grades require demonstrating mastery of skills and content at defined higher levels. Each students’ grade is solely dependent on the work they produce rather than the performance of other students. We piloted specifications grading in the smaller, third quarter course of the lower division organic chemistry laboratory series held during a summer term. Open-ended questions were chosen to gather student and TA perceptions of the new grading system. TAs felt that the new grading system reduced the weekly grading time because it was less ambiguous. Responses from students about the nature of the grading system were mixed. Their perceptions indicate that initial buy-in and multiple reminders about the bigger picture of the grading system will be essential to the success of this grading system on a larger scale.</p>

scholarly journals Academic Press and Student Engagement: Can Academic Psychological Capital Intervene? Test of a Mediated Model on Business Graduates

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Meryem Fati ◽  
Umair Ahmed ◽  
Waheed Ali Umrani ◽  
Fazluz Zaman
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Private University ◽  
Academic Press ◽  
Academic Efficacy ◽  
Business Graduates ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
The Relationship

Psychological wellbeing has gained much prominence over the recent years. Parallel to organizational domains, empirical attention is also being paid across the academics as well. The present study attempted to examine the much important role and relationship between academic press and student engagement and to what length academic psychological capital can potentially mediate in the relationship. A total of 371 undergraduate students were sampled for the present study from a private university in Bahrain. Through using structural equation modelling using Smart PLS 3 the results of the mediated model reported significant relationship between academic press and academic psychological capital (i-e academic efficacy and resilience). Though the study did not find any support for academic press and student engagement relationship, nonetheless, found a significant mediation of academic psychological capital in the relationship between academic press and student engagement. The findings have suggested that students’ perceptions about how much their teacher presses them to do thoughtful work, facilitation in explaining and motivating for full efforts can act as a key ingredient for nurturing students` connectivity with the studies in general and views about their own learning. Accordingly, the study has also underlined that students with positive academic press from their teachers tend to be higher in engagement due to enhanced efficacy and resilience. The present study has attempted to address a major research gap with acute empirical findings for academicians to enhance their students` wellbeing. 

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