rwms and laboratories, with a concomitant emphasis on learning by doing rather than by listening. There will be extensive computer utilization for allowing interactive independent study and self-testing, and for nomenclature, cbkmical bonding, etc. Appropriate uses of information technolo~ieswill reduce dramatically the amount of time needed f i r convcntlonal rlassroom l&turinR, and provide, instead, time for identifying and understanding the unity, coherence, and relevance o f various chemicd concepts. Laboratory settings will stress group-learning and teamoriented exneriments so that students mav in - coooerate . solving laboratory problems without merely following a cookbook. and in some cases. without the wsts of ~roviding each student with a full set of laboratory tools. h plan broad revision of the curriculum, two types of workshops will be held. Faculty from small colleges, where innovative educational modes have already been introduced, will be invited to the first workshop to present ideas and discuss ways to implement such changes in the environment of a large university. A second workshop will invite participants form various Michigan State University departments that require chemistry courses a s part of their curriculum. This workshop will focus on planning actual course outlines to better serve the needs of the clients, while maintaining the elements of the proposed curricular revisions.
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sion of a new teaching model, Workshop Chemistry, piloted a t the College with NSF support. The model emphasizes collaborative learning and creates more active roles for students in the teaching and learning processes, moving away from the passive learning of the lecture mode. The preliminary design of course modules that will form the basis of the Workshop Chemistry curriculum is a key aspect of the planning process. The modules can include any combination of laboratory, computer and problem solving work. The project directors will work with faculty collaborators from the senior and communitv college levels to translate their ideas into module out1in"es. ~hLoutcomeof the ~ l a n n i n g phase will be a detailed olan for s~ecification of the course modules and how they 211 be integrated into the curriculum. The planning process a s well a s the final project will involve a s partners faculty in other science disciplines, engineering, health sciences, architecture and education, a s well as individuals from industry; this will facilitate t h e design of a curriculum which promotes students' ability to apply chemistry concepts to other fields. Communicating Chemistry. A Planning Proposal for Changing the Chemistry Curriculum. - . Leonard W. Fine Columbiauniversity New York, NY 10027
Revitalizing Scientific Inquiry In The Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum David W Craig Hobart and William Smith Colleges $50,000 Geneva, NY 14456
A master plan will be developed for making sweeping changes in what we teach in chemistry and how we teach it, in light of revolutionary ways for improved learning that will be widely available before the end of this decade. At the heart of the svstemic chanees orooosed is a broadThe structure of the undergraduate chemistry curricuening of the curriculum across traditional academic and lum is determined by the American Chemical Society Com~rofessionalboundaries to better reflect the needs of a Dromittee on Professional Training (CPT). While the curricuductive lifetime in society for students of different backlar standards established by the CPT have succeeded in mounds. abilities and interests. At the same time. bv condefining and regularizing iducational standards for the ceiving ; new curriculum plan from the top down, i t \;ill be training of professional chemists, chamzing student popupossible to produce one that is inclusive. not exclusive. al1ationsLave created pressures onthis &rricular structure. iowing those who complete the major tb share ideas i n d This curriculum planning project is designed to enhance develop points of view and attitudes that have a wmmon the cducatlonal c x p e r l m ~ e ~both o f majors and non-mnijor;t origin with those students who drop away earlier into alby modelmg the i~ducatlonalprocess more closely in paralternate careers. For those who do drop away, the curriculel to the wav in which scientific discoverv occurs. Curriculum plan provides a realistic sense of what is exciting and lar structur& and support materials w k be designed to important in chemistry and how it fits into their lives. Proemuhasize Droblem solvine. ~ ~ l i c a t i o n s posed curriculum changes depend on delivery systems that -. interdisci~linarv " a .. of chemistry, and increased ease of access to chemical intake advantage of the technological transformation that is formation. This eoal will be accom~lishedthrough the efpresently altering learning through electronic communicaforts of five curriculum initiatives. Four-person teams setion and visualization of information. This planning prolected from primarilv u n d e r g r a d u a t e colleges will oosal will have a sienificant i m ~ a c it n brineine about participate inihese iruhatwes. They are ~ o d u l a Course r change in the entireehemistry curriculum a r ~ i l u m b i a Desim Initiative: Laboratow Innovation Initiative; Interand it will be transferable to chemistrv- denartments in . medGte and Advanred ~nterdisci~linar? Courie Initiative; other institutions. Other institutions working on this p q Visuillizatlon and Database Access Initiative: and Assessect are IIT. MIT, Stevens Instituw, Northwcstcrn. Wisconment Tools Initiative. The Collaborating institutions are sin, ~ o r t h c a r o ~ u a . Allentown College, Buffalo State College, Finger Lakes Community College, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Enhancing Interdisciplinary Interactions Through a Modular Science Curricula James Madison University, Millersville University, Pennsylvania State University, River College, Rochester InstiGilbert~.Pacey tute of Technology, University of Pittsburgh, York College Miami University $49,997 of Pennsylvania. Oxford,OH 45056 -
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A Workshop Chemistry Curriculum David K. Gosser CUNY City College New York, NY 10031
$49,995
City College requests support for a planning process leadine to the redesien and modernization of the undergraduate chemistry Grriculum a t City College and partner community colleges. The planning will focus on exten-
Through t h e development of a modular approach to chemistry and relate sciences, we propose to address the following issues. Students: student pool is bifurcated into well-prepared and ill-prepared "at-risk" students; students with interdisci~linarvinterests must decide amone traditional majors; siienceiiteracy among the nonscience students is extremelv low: student learning is more visual. making the lecture firmat less effective. ~ ~ s t r u c t i orapid n: expansion of science has over-extended curricular content
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Volume 71
Number 1 January 1994
45
