The physical chemistry laboratory can be a lackluster experience for many chemistry students. Most efforts to improve the physical chemistry laboratory experience have focused on modernizing the experiments. Modernization is a good way to introduce new methods in the teaching laboratory, but these efforts often fail to energize students or encourage them to think like physical chemists. This talk will focus on efforts and successes in engaging students in conceptual learning in the physical chemistry laboratory. This work has been a strong group effort by faculty members from a diverse group of institutions who have utilized POGIL methodology to develop experiments that require students to think like a physical chemist rather than confirm prior knowledge. Additionally a process of teaching materials development by faculty that produces truly lab-ready and robust materials will be described. <br/>

Developing student conceptual understanding in the physical chemistry laboratory

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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