THE SECTIONING PROBLEM IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY* A. J. Cunnr~n,TEEPENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE, STATE COLLEGE, PENNA.
Data obtained f r m examinations, designed to test previous training in high-school chemistry and aptitude for the study of chemistry, given i n September, 1929, to freshmen matriculated in four technical schools (agriculture, chemistry and physics, engineering, mineral industries) of The Pennsylvania State College are used to s h m the status of the training i n high-school chemistry and in arranging "A" sections in general chemistry given in the first semester. The results of these examinations are compared with the results obtained at the completion of the course of the first semester. Conclusions are s?~mmarized.
. . . . . .
The organization of courses in general chemistry in such a manner that each student may receive the maximum benefit is an extremely complicated problem, particularly in the larger institutions. Many studies have been made in connection with this problem. [See references (I) through ( 9 ) on page 330.1 A number of the larger institutions have found it advisable to differentiate their students in general chemistry on the basis of previous training in high-school chemistry. Many others have not. Administrative factors such as the method of determining previous training, credits to be given, laboratory accommodations, etc., have had considerable bearing, of course, on the policy adopted in the various institutions. It seemed to us that the aptitude of a student for the study of chemistry is a factor worthy of consideration, although it is a trait which is difficult to evaluate by tests. In the fall of 1929 we undertook to obtain definite information concerning the following points: 1. The status of the high-school training of our freshmen. 2. Their aptitude for the study of chemistry (as nearly as could he shown by our tests). 3. A plan for sectioning these students in general chemistry based on results obtained from tests. 4. The relation between final results obtained in general chemistry and previous training and aptitude. For the purpose of our study, brief, mimeographed examinations of two types were given to freshmen during "freshmen w e e k a t the beginning of the semester. One, the "Training Test," was designed to cover the important phases of the high-school chemistry. The other, the so-called "Aptitude Test," included questions requiring calculation and reasoning similar to that employed in general chemistry. Our "A" sections were, in general,
* Presented before the Division of Chemical Education, at the 80th meeting of the American Chemical Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1930. 328
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SECTIONING PROBLEM I N CHEMISTRY
329
made up of students who had earned a grade of 70% or more either in the "Aptitude Test" or the "Training Test." It was thought that students with a high "aptitude" standing should be able to do superior work even Chemistry and Physics 87.5% Engineering =.a% Mineral Industries 76.87, Agriculture 73.8% FIOWRE 1.-PERCENTAGEOF FRESHMEN IN FOURSCHOOLS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATECOLLEGE WHO HAD HIGHSCHOOL CHEMISTRY (TOOKTRAINING TEST) (1929)
though they had not previously studied chemistry. The results obtained in these tests and the final grades for the course are summarized in Firpre 1 and in Tables I and 11. TABLE I General Classification (Chemistry 1 and 3) Number Who Took Test
Aptitude Test*
104
Training Test*'
516
Neither Test7
154
Number Who Pnilcd Test
49 13%
Course
40 48%
234 66%
'\-umber who Foiled
...
39% 88
45%
13% 27
20% Total
774
17% 283
135 17%
* Taken by students who had not studied chemistry in high school. ** Taken by students who had studied chemistry in high school. Taken by students who registered late, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
TABLE I1 "A" Sections YS. R@m Sections (Chemistry 1 and 3) A SECTIONS rVumber Who Took T e d
Aptitude Test
34
~VumbrrWho Poiled Tar1
3'
X u m b n Who Foiled Courra
12 9%
Training Test
137
7'
171
10
35% 8
5% Total
5% 20
8%
12%
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
FEBRUARY, 1931
Remrr.an Sarrrons --.~~-~ -~
Numbn Who Took Tesl
Aptitude Test
70
Nnmbn Who Foilcd Terl
45
Number Who Poilcd Courrc
28 40 %
60% Training Test
379
228
449
273
60 60%
Total
16%
&S 61%
20%
* I t was necessary in Chemistry 3, to include students with less than 70% grades in the tests in order to make full sections.
Conclusions 1. Of the students who entered four technical schools of The Pennsylvania State College in 1929, those in the School of Chemistry and Physics ranked the highest in relative percentage who had high-school chemistry. Students in the School of Engineering ranked second, in the School of Mineral Industries third, and fourth in the School of Agriculture. 2. The number of failures in general chemistry in college is three times as great (39%:13%) among those who did not have high-school chemistry as among those who did have it (Tahle I). In the " A Sections (Tahle 11) this ratio is even more striking (350/,:5%). It follows that the student who had studied chemistry in high school had a decided advantage over the one who did not. 3. Results obtained in our training tests formed a sound basis for the selection of students for "A" Sections. 4. Results obtained in our aptitude tests did not form a sound basis for the selection of students for "A" sections (excepting those with very high grades, 90% or above, in these tests).
Literature Cited (I) (2)
(3) 4 (5) ~.
(6)
(7) (8)
(9)
FRY, "Questions Relative t o the Correlation of College and High-School Chem2,26&9 (Apr., 1925). istry Counes," J. CHEW.EDUC., EVERHARTand EBAUGH,"A Comparison of Grades in General Chemistry Earned by Students W h o (A) Have Had and (B) W h o Have Not Had High-Schwl Chemistry," ibid., 2, 7 7 0 4 (Sept., 1925). BROWN,"Separate Classes in Freshman Chemistry for Pupils W h o Present HighSchool Credits in Chemistry," ibid., 3, 301-6 (Mar., 1926). SILVERMAN, "Intensive Training in Chemistry," ibid., 5,317-22 (Mar., 1928). HBNDRICKSand tom so^. "Findina- the Su~eriorHiah-School Chemistm Student," ibid., 6, 7&31 (Jan, 1929). GLASOE,"The Deadly Parallelism between Hi~h-Schwl and Colleae . - Courses in Chemistry." ibid., 6, 505-9 (Mar., 1929). BUERLER,"The One College Course for Freshmen," Qid.. 6, 5 1 0 3 (Mar., 1929). GARARDand GATES, "High-School Chemistry and the Student's Record in College Chemistry," ibid.,6, 514-7 (Mar., 1929). SCOFIELD,"Fu~ther Studies on Sectioning in General Chemistry," ibid., 7, 117-26 (Jan., 1930).
