Authentic laboratory experiments can develop a deeper understanding of content, as well as critical thinking and career skills. Our nuclear chemistry laboratory culminates in an experiment where students are asked to identify an element in a sample using only techniques learned earlier in the semester, in this course. Traditionally, students were provided a general outline of how to perform the experiment as well as some potential pitfalls specific to certain elements used in the experiment. Several years ago, we shifted to a procedure-less experiment. The students are now asked to develop a general procedure based on what they have learned through the course of the semester. Students are also required to adapt when their results don’t match expectations, and write up their work as if it were original research and their papers were being submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Specific aspects of this laboratory experience as well as assessment techniques and results from both traditional and discovery-based approaches will be presented.

Implementation of a comprehensive, discovery-based experiment in nuclear chemistry

251st National Meeting (2016)

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