POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) educational activities, involve students first exploring a model (a concept) or in the lab an experimental protocol. The next step is concept invention, where students look for patterns and relationships in the data collected from the protocol. Application is the last step, where the concepts developed previously are used to answer further questions and address more advanced models or further experimentation. This combination of steps is the learning cycle. In order to do advanced experiments, some basic procedures (enzyme and other chemical assays) have to be learned first. These fundamental procedures have been converted into guided inquiry “mini-experiments,” (exploration and concept invention). These mini-experiments culminate with an application laboratory experience whereby the students propose, set up, and conduct their own experiment. In this context the students are presented with a relatively simple final project: determine the sugar content in milk samples. This seemingly straightforward project leads students to conduct a variety of experiments and to test several hypotheses with their own experimental designs. The responses from students have been remarkable, with several making statements such as ‘the milk experiment was the most fun I’ve ever had in lab.’

Research-like experience for undergraduate biochemistry students: How much sugar is in this milk?

2019 Spring National Meeting

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