Development of a Pre-General Chemistry Course at Valdosta State University

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1 Georgia Southern University Digital Southern Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference Mar 7th, 9:55 AM - 10:15 AM Development of a Pre-General Chemistry Course at Valdosta State University Donna L. Gosnell Valdosta State University Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Chemistry Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, and the Science and Mathematics Education Commons Recommended Citation Gosnell, Donna L., "Development of a Pre-General Chemistry Course at Valdosta State University" (2014). Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference This event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences & Events at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@georgiasouthern.edu.

2 DEVELOPMENT OF A PRE-GENERAL CHEMISTRY COURSE AT VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY Dr. Donna L. Gosnell Associate Professor of Chemistry

3 History Principles of Chemistry I and II with labs CHEM 1211/1211L and 1212/1212L Primarily serves Biology and Chemistry majors Others (nursing, science, engineering, general educafon for core) Standard Courses 3 hour lecture (3 credit hours) 3 hours lab (1 credit hour) Problem High >40% DFW rates (D, F and withdrawals)

4 Possible Causes of High DFW Poor math/logic skills Poor study skills No chemistry in high school Students may take other sciences and possibly avoid chemistry to boost GPA for HOPE or other scholarships Students not matched with best major

5 Why a Pre-General Chemistry course? Reduce DFW in general chemistry Increase retenfon Address changes in withdrawal policy Withdrawals are possible up to midterm Prior to 2010 unlimited Post 2010 limited to 5 free W s while at VSU 6 th and beyond recorded as WF and count as F toward GPA

6 Course Development Gained support from administrafon Formed a department commi\ee Wrote Course outline (CHEM 1200) Focus on math skills and basic chemistry 2 hours lecture 2 hours recitafon (problem session; group work) Employment of 2 embedded tutors Currently funded by administrafon Senior- level chemistry majors A\end all classes Assist in recitafon Hold office/tutor hours in VSU Student Success Center (tutoring center)

7 Placement Policy First cut Math SAT = 540; ACT=23 Based on data for students in CHEM 1211 with final grade of A

8 Second cut Placement Exam Toledo test Math secfon only Primarily algebra 20 quesfons Arbitrary pass score = 65% Will revisit as more data is gathered Administered by VSU tesfng center Students can take on a walk- in basis beginning during early registrafon period

9 First Semester of CHEM Placed in CHEM final enrollment Powerpoint delivery for lectures (NO TEXT) RecitaFon sessions Group work Helped by instructor and tutors Online Homework Sapling ($30) Topics Covered Unit conversions/dimensional Analysis Algebra Review and math reinforcement as necessary Basic Chemistry Formulas, Nomenclature, Stoichiometry, etc. Final Grades (34.4% DFW) A=5 B=9 C=7 D=2 F=7 W=2

10 Effects on General Chemistry (CHEM 1211) At- risk students removed from general chemistry Placed in CHEM 1200 Student decided not to take chemistry 1. Final Grades 2. DFW rates 3. Departmental Assessments ACS (American Chemical Society) Final Exam Selected quesfons used for analysis Have data for >5 years

11 Final Grades P e rc e n t Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Fall A B C D F W Final Grade

12 DFW rates over 3 years Recall Fall 2013 begins CHEM P E 40 R C E N T ABC DFW fall 2011 fall 2012 fall 2013

13 Department Assessment Meets Criteria = 50% correct on selected ACS Exam quesfons Selected QuesFon Topics Stoichiometry Atomic Structure Molecular Structure Periodic Table/Trends ReacFon Chemistry Thermodynamics (1 st law) Ma\er ProperFes Nomenclature Gas Laws

14 Summary Assessment P e rc fall 2011 fall 2012 e 30 n t 20 fall Exceeds Meets Fails

15 Topic Assessment (Meets+Exceeds) Blue = 5 year average Red= Fall 2012

16 Summary of Percent Changes 80 Percentage Change from 2011/2012 to P e rc e n t C h a n g e ABC DFW Exceeds Meets Fails

17 Conclusions Placing student in CHEM 1200 appears to have had a posifve effect on CHEM 1211 Improved grade averages Improved ACS exams At this point Only due to culling students for CHEM 1200 Further study Track CHEM 1200 Students Enrollment in CHEM 1211 Grades in CHEM 1211

18 Acknowledgements VSU Chemistry Department, AdministraFon and CHEM 1200 Course commi\ee Dr. G. Lynn Wood and Dr. Linda de la Garza Assessment data