The faculty in the Department of Chemistry at CSU Stanislaus is committed to incorporating discovery-based undergraduate research activities into the curriculum. We have implemented research-learning activities in the general chemistry laboratory, where the students engage in experiments that they design. The goal is to incorporate discovery-based projects that will prepare and train undergraduate students using research & development activities connected to the California Central Valley's industrial workforce needs: Agriculture, Food Industry, Biofuels, Water Treatment, and Waste Control. Students were given a set of real world questions and they were challenged to find answers by developing an experimental procedure that could be performed in a general chemistry lab. The students performed preliminary tests to demonstrate that the proposed experimental procedures were feasible. Each team worked on their experiments making solutions, measuring reagents, setting up instrumentation, and carrying out measurements in a two-week period. At the end of the semester, the students presented a poster to the campus community. We will present the methodology used to implement these activities and the evaluation surveys obtained from the students, faculty, and visitors.

No longer spectators: Challenging General Chemistry lab students with a research experience

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.