We have developed “Introduction to Chemical Research” as an on-line course to prepare our junior level students to develop communication skills used by practicing chemists. The main course objectives are: 1) to demonstrate the ability to write footnote references and annotated bibliography entries using proper ACS style as outlined in the text; 2) to demonstrate the ability to use state-of-the-art information retrieval software to find the answers to questions related to the practice of chemistry; and 3) to prepare and deliver a presentation which reports the results of scientific research. We created a series of on-line quizzes to allow students to cover the text material at their own pace. The text, The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors; Dodd, J. S., Ed.; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1997, covers essential material for those who communicate chemistry. We created a series of chemical search assignments (increasing in difficulty) that instruct students in accessing the literature. The administration of the quizzes and the search assignments is done electronically. Student success in these assignments is demonstrated by a search assignment topic based on the recent chemical literature. The students independently research the topic, digest the information and then present a 15 minute seminar to the faculty. This last component of the course is done with face-to-face communication; the instructor mentors the student in building the oral presentation from the foundation up. This course has potential to be developed into a graduate level course appropriate for an on-line Professional Science Master's Degree program.
Back to Chemical Education I (General Session)
Back to The 56th Southeast Regional Meeting 2004 (November 10-13, 2004)