Actin Research Fellw: Kristin Ziebart Title: Prmting Cnceptual Understanding f General Chemistry with Shrt Writing Tasks Cntext: CH 121-122-123: General Chemistry Apprximately 250 students will cmplete the sequence f curses in which actin research is being cnducted. Shrt This actin research prject aims t study the effect that shrt writing Descriptin: tasks, After Class Activities (ACA s), have n student learning. These weekly assignments invlve 1-2 chemistry cntent questins (see Appendix 1), 1 questin aimed t prmte metacgnitin, and 1 questin that gives students a chance t ask questins r express cncerns. Each week an Instructr Feedback dcument was created that addressed the chemistry cntent questins and respnded t student questins, cncerns and/r miscnceptins that were expressed in the ACA respnses. Apprx. 12-20 students receive individual email respnses t their specific questins r cncerns, where apprpriate. Research Questins: Prpsed Data Cllectin Questins and Cncerns Preliminary results frm a previus implementatatin (Spring 2015) f the ACAs suggested that the ACAs prmted cnceptual learning and verall student success. They als served as a methd t cllect student feedback that pwerfully infrmed my teaching practices. In this prject, I want t examine hw and t what extent d these assignments lead t imprved cnceptual understanding and verall success in the series f curses. 1. T what extent are After Class Activities (ACAs) respnsible fr higher exam scres/verall curse grade? 2. What particular aspects f the ACAs are attributable t imprved curse perfrmance? e.g., the prcess f reflecting? the prcess f writing? the instructr feedback? the signal that ACAs send t students that "this cncept is imprtant - study it mre? the targeted feedback that ccurs in real time as the curse prceeds? 3. D certain demgraphics f students benefit mre r less frm the ACAs? ACAs are weekly assignments. Sme f the ACA questins will appear as shrt answer (hand-graded) exam questins. The exam respnses will be cmpared t ACA respnses. Surveys will be administered (see Appendix 2) at the beginning and end f each curse f the three-curse sequence t gauge student perceptins f the ACAs n their learning. Additinally, students will be tracked ver the 3-term sequence fr retentin f cnceptual knwledge. Questins fr Jim Pelligrin What is the best way t demnstrate efficacy f these assignments, in terms f gains in student learning? What kind f quantitative data is best t cllect? What are the best cmparisns t be making, given that I dn t have a cntrl grup f students - ther than data frm my previus curses when ACAs were nt implemented?
Appendix 1: ACA questins fr CH 121, CH 122, CH 123 Every ACA assignment in each curse will always have the fllwing questins, in additin t the 1-2 specific cntent questins that pertain t material cvered in that week f the curse. Name ne thing yu learned this week in CH 121/122/123 that yu fund interesting, surprising r ptentially useful, whether in daily life, future science curses r yur career. Optinal - D yu have any cncerns r questins abut the material cvered this week in CH 121/122/123? CH 121 ACA questins Week 1 What is the difference between a law, a thery and a hypthesis? Why are significant figures imprtant? Week 2 Describe the structure f an atm. What is a mle? Why is this unit needed in chemistry? Week 3 What is a chemical bnd? When water bils, are chemical bnds brken? Explain why r why nt. Week 4 What infrmatin is cntained within a chemical frmula? Week 5 In the reactin A + B C, 4 grams f A and 1 gram f B are used. Des this mean that B is limiting reagent? Explain why r why nt. Week 6 What is a precipitatin reactin? Why is it that if the vlume f a gas decreases, its pressure will increase (as lng as T and n are held cnstant)? (Hint: think in terms f hw a gas exerts pressure, page 3 f Chapter 5 lecture ntes) Week 7 Accrding t the Kinetic Mlecular Thery, what is temperature? (Pretend yu are explaining this t a friend wh has nt taken Chemistry befre - use simple, everyday language t answer this questin.) Week 8 Where des heat f reactin cme frm? What is the first law f thermdynamics? Week 9 Hw is ΔU different frm ΔH? Week 10 Why is the quantum mechanical mdel f atm necessary? What are rbitals and what d they describe?
CH 122 ACA questins Week 1 Hw des the Thery f Quantum Mechanics explain Peridic Law? What is a valence electrn and why are valence electrns imprtant? Week 2 Describe (in general terms) hw t cnstruct a Lewis structure fr a given mlecular frmula. What is electrnegativity? Why is this imprtant in the cntext f mlecules and cmpunds? Week 3 Describe (in general terms) hw t cnstruct a Lewis structure fr a given mlecular frmula. Week 4 Why is knwing the three-dimensinal shape f a mlecule imprtant? Hw d we knw that hybrid rbitals exist? That is, hw d we knw that in methane, CH4, carbn frms bnds with hydrgen using sp3 hybrid rbitals? Week 5 Explain this trend: the strnger the intermlecular frces, the lwer the vapr pressure fr a given substance. Hw d yu suppse life n earth wuld be different if water's gemetry were linear instead f bent? Week 6 Describe the equilibrium prcess that exists in a saturated slutin. Why des ne mle f sdium chlride (NaCl) lwer the freezing pint f water mre than ne mle f glucse (C 6 H 12 O 6 )? (Assume that each slutin is prepared with 1.0 kg pure water.) Week 7 Why is the rate f a chemical reactin affected by the cncentratin f the reactant(s)? Week 8 What is a catalyst? Week 9 What is dynamic equilibrium? Hw culd ne experimentally determine if dynamic equilibrium has been established? Week 10 Describe (in general terms) hw t set up an ICE table. Describe (in general terms) hw t slve an equilibrium prblem using an ICE table
CH 123 ACA questins Week 1 What is an acid? What makes an acid strng r weak, and hw culd yu experimentally determine if an acid is strng r weak? Week 2 Why des a sdium frmate prduce a basic slutin (when disslved in pure water), but a slutin f sdium chlride is neutral? Week 3 What is the purpse f a buffer, what is it cmpsed f, and hw des it wrk Week 4 Why is calcium sulfate mre sluble in pure water than in a slutin that als cntains sdium sulfate? Week 5 What is entrpy? Instead f a "textbk" answer, try t think f hw yu wuld explain this t smene wh has never taken chemistry Give an example f a prcess that invlves an increase f entrpy, and explain hw/why entrpy increases. Week 6 Hw is Gibbs free energy related t entrpy? (try t think beynd a simple mathematical equatin that cntains G and S terms - describe yur understanding f such a mathematical relatinship in wrds) Hw is Gibbs free energy related t equilibrium? (again, try t avid an answer that simply states a mathematical relatinship between G and K - try t describe yur understanding f the relatinship in wrds) Week 7 Under what cnditins will the value f the cell reductin ptential (E cell ) be greater than the value f the standard cell reductin ptential (E cell)? Week 8 D all radiactive substances present the same danger t human health? Why are sme atms radiactive, but thers are nt radiactive? Week 9 Why des nuclear fissin create an enrmus amunt f energy? Week 10 What is functinal grup and why is it imprtant in the wrld f rganic chemistry?
Appendix 2: Pre- and Pst-term Surveys fr CH 121, CH 122, CH 123 CH 121 Pre-Term Survey Questins General Backgrund Questins 1. What is yur age? under 18 18-19 20-21 21-25 26-30 31-40 41 r greater prefer nt t answer 2. What is yur gender? female male different identity prefer nt t answer 3. With which racial r ethnic grup(s) d yu mst identify? African-American American Indian/Native American Asian Caucasian/White (nn-hispanic) Latin, Hispanic r Spanish rigin Native Hawaiian r Pacific Islander Multiracial Other Prefer nt t answer 4. Have yu taken chemistry befre, whether in high schl, cllege, cmmunity cllege r elsewhere? Yes (please answer Q.# s 5 and 6) (skip t Q.#7) 5. Did yu take chemistry in high schl? Yes 6. Did yu take chemistry in cllege (university, cllege r cmmunity cllege)? Yes (if s, please specify the name f schl and term/semester and year, i.e., Fall 2014) 7. Have yu taken, r are yu currently enrlled in, a cllege algebra math curse? (MTH 111 at Oregn State, r its equivalent) Yes
8. Please list all math curses that yu have successfully cmpleted (i.e., earned a grade f C- r better) 9. Are yu planning t take CH 122 in Spring term 2016? Yes 10. Are yu planning t take CH 123 in Summer term 2016? (Aug 15 Sept 2) Yes Student attitudes and beliefs questins: 11. What are yur expectatins fr this chemistry curse? 12. What d yu think it takes t succeed in this chemistry curse? 13. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in this chemistry curse? t sure 14. D yu think that writing abut chemistry will help yu learn it? t sure Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 15. What is chemical change? 16. What is an atm? Culd yu describe the structure f an atm? 17. Hw is scientific knwledge btained and verified?
CH 121 Pst-Term Survey Questins 1. Were yur expectatins met fr this chemistry curse? Please explain why r why nt. 2. What activities mst cntributed t yur success in this chemistry curse? select all that apply. attending lecture attending recitatin, cmpleting the wrksheets attending Instructr ffice hurs attending TA/mle hle ffice hurs reading the text bk cmpleting the hmewrk reading the Instructr feedback dcuments reviewing lecture ntes cmpleting the ACA s studying in a peer grup wrking with a private tutr ther 3. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in future chemistry curses? t sure t applicable I will nt take a chemistry curse in the future 4. D yu think that writing abut chemistry helped yu t learn it? t sure 5. I cmpleted mst f the After Class Activity assignments. ("mst" means 75-100% f the assignments) Agree Disagree Strngly disagree 6. I read thrugh mst f the "Instructr Feedback" dcuments and fund them t be helpful in clarifying the cncepts that were asked abut in the ACA. Agree Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree t applicable 7. Thrugh the prcess f the ACA's - that is, reflecting n the questin and writing ut my answer I gained a deeper, mre cmplete understanding f the tpics asked abut in the ACA
Agree Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree Nt applicable because I did nt cmplete any f the ACA s 8. Please cmment specifically n ne r mre f the fllwing questins: Ø Did the ACA's help yu learn the material in a mre meaningful way? Ø Did the ACA's help yu t prepare fr, and d well n, the exams? Ø Did the ACA's frce yu t think mre deeply abut the cncepts discussed in lecture? Ø Anything else yu wish t cmment n is appreciated. Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 9. What is chemical change? 10. What is an atm? Culd yu describe the structure f an atm? 11. Hw is scientific knwledge btained and verified?
CH 122 Pre-Term Survey Questins General Backgrund Questins 1. What is yur age? under 18 18-19 20-21 21-25 26-30 31-40 41 r greater prefer nt t answer 2. What is yur gender? female male different identity prefer nt t answer 3. With which racial r ethnic grup(s) d yu mst identify? African-American American Indian/Native American Asian Caucasian/White (nn-hispanic) Latin, Hispanic r Spanish rigin Native Hawaiian r Pacific Islander Multiracial Other Prefer nt t answer 4. Did yu take CH 121 frm Dr. Ziebart last term, i.e., Winter 2015? Yes (skip t Q.#6) (please answer Q.#5) 5. When (term, year) and where (name f schl) did yu take CH 121 (r the equivalent pre-requisite curse fr CH 122)? 6. Have yu taken, r are yu currently enrlled in, a cllege algebra math curse? (MTH 111 at Oregn State, r its equivalent) Yes 7. Please list all math curses that yu have successfully cmpleted (i.e., earned a grade f C- r better) 8. Are yu planning t take CH 123 in Summer term 2016? (Aug 15 Sept 2) Yes
Student attitudes and beliefs questins: 9. What are yur expectatins fr this chemistry curse? 10. What d yu think it takes t succeed in this chemistry curse? 11. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in this chemistry curse? t sure 12. D yu think that writing abut chemistry will help yu learn it? t sure Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 13. Describe the structure f an atm. 14. Hw is scientific knwledge btained and verified? 15. What determines the three-dimensinal shape f a mlecule? 16. Why is heat required fr a substance t transitin frm liquid t gas?
CH 122 Pst-Term Survey Questins 1. Were yur expectatins met fr this chemistry curse? Please explain why r why nt. 2. What activities mst cntributed t yur success in this chemistry curse? select all that apply. attending lecture attending recitatin, cmpleting the wrksheets attending Instructr ffice hurs attending TA/mle hle ffice hurs reading the text bk cmpleting the hmewrk reading the Instructr feedback dcuments reviewing lecture ntes cmpleting the ACA s studying in a peer grup wrking with a private tutr ther 3. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in future chemistry curses? t sure t applicable I will nt take a chemistry curse in the future 4. D yu think that writing abut chemistry helped yu t learn it? t sure 5. I cmpleted mst f the After Class Activity assignments. ("mst" means 75-100% f the assignments) Agree Disagree Strngly disagree 6. I read thrugh mst f the "Instructr Feedback" dcuments and fund them t be helpful in clarifying the cncepts that were asked abut in the ACA. Agree Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree t applicable 7. Thrugh the prcess f the ACA's - that is, reflecting n the questin and writing ut my answer I gained a deeper, mre cmplete understanding f the tpics asked abut in the ACA Agree
Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree Nt applicable because I did nt cmplete any f the ACA s 8. Please cmment specifically n ne r mre f the fllwing questins: Ø Did the ACA's help yu learn the material in a mre meaningful way? Ø Did the ACA's help yu t prepare fr, and d well n, the exams? Ø Did the ACA's frce yu t think mre deeply abut the cncepts discussed in lecture? Ø Anything else yu wish t cmment n is appreciated. Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 9. Describe the structure f an atm. 10. Hw is scientific knwledge btained and verified? 11. What determines the three-dimensinal shape f a mlecule? 12. Why is heat required fr a substance t transitin frm liquid t gas? 13. Please cmment n the extent t which the writing activities yu cmpleted in CH 121 and CH 122 helped yu t make cnnectins between the cntent learned in each curse.
CH 123 Pre-Term Survey Questins General Backgrund Questins 1. What is yur age? under 18 18-19 20-21 21-25 26-30 31-40 41 r greater prefer nt t answer 2. What is yur gender? female male different identity prefer nt t answer 3. With which racial r ethnic grup(s) d yu mst identify? African-American American Indian/Native American Asian Caucasian/White (nn-hispanic) Latin, Hispanic r Spanish rigin Native Hawaiian r Pacific Islander Multiracial Other Prefer nt t answer 4. Did yu take CH 121 frm Dr. Ziebart in Winter Term f 2016? Yes 5. Did yu take CH 122 frm Dr. Ziebart in Spring Term f 2016? Yes (skip t Q.#7) (answer Q.#6) 6. If yu answered n t either questin #4 r #5, please indicate when (term, year) and where (name f schl) yu tk CH 121 and/r CH 122 (r the equivalent pre-requisite curse(s) fr CH 123)? 7. Have yu taken, r are yu currently enrlled in, a cllege algebra math curse? (MTH 111 at Oregn State, r its equivalent) Yes 8. Please list all math curses that yu have successfully cmpleted (i.e., earned a grade f C- r better)
Student attitudes and beliefs questins: 9. What are yur expectatins fr this chemistry curse? 10. What d yu think it takes t succeed in this chemistry curse? 11. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in this chemistry curse? t sure 12. D yu think that writing abut chemistry will help yu learn it? t sure Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 13. What is chemical equilibrium? 14. What is an acid? Hw culd ne determine if a substance was an acid? 15. What is entrpy? Describe a situatin r prcess in which entrpy increases. 16. What des the term radiactive mean t yu?
CH 123 Pst-Term Survey Questins 1. Were yur expectatins met fr this chemistry curse? Please explain why r why nt. 2. What activities mst cntributed t yur success in this chemistry curse? select all that apply. attending lecture attending recitatin, cmpleting the wrksheets attending Instructr ffice hurs attending TA/mle hle ffice hurs reading the text bk cmpleting the hmewrk reading the Instructr feedback dcuments reviewing lecture ntes cmpleting the ACA s studying in a peer grup wrking with a private tutr ther 3. Are yu cnfident in yur ability t succeed (i.e., earn C- r better) in future chemistry curses? t sure t applicable I will nt take a chemistry curse in the future 4. D yu think that writing abut chemistry helped yu t learn it? t sure 5. I cmpleted mst f the After Class Activity assignments. ("mst" means 75-100% f the assignments) Agree Disagree Strngly disagree 6. I read thrugh mst f the "Instructr Feedback" dcuments and fund them t be helpful in clarifying the cncepts that were asked abut in the ACA. Agree Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree t applicable 7. Thrugh the prcess f the ACA's - that is, reflecting n the questin and writing ut my answer I gained a deeper, mre cmplete understanding f the tpics asked abut in the ACA Agree
Neither agree nr disagree Disagree Strngly disagree Nt applicable because I did nt cmplete any f the ACA s 8. Please cmment specifically n ne r mre f the fllwing questins: Ø Did the ACA's help yu learn the material in a mre meaningful way? Ø Did the ACA's help yu t prepare fr, and d well n, the exams? Ø Did the ACA's frce yu t think mre deeply abut the cncepts discussed in lecture? Ø Anything else yu wish t cmment n is appreciated. Chemistry Cntent questins: The fllwing questins are intended t gauge yur current knwledge f these tpics. Please d nt cnsult yur textbk, the Internet r ther surces t find the answers. Yur respnse is nt graded fr accuracy. If yu d nt knw the answer, it is OK; d yur best r simply state I dn t knw 9. What is chemical equilibrium? 10. What is an acid? Hw culd ne determine if a substance was an acid? 11. What is entrpy? Describe a situatin r prcess in which entrpy increases. 12. What des the term radiactive mean t yu? 13. Please cmment n the extent t which the writing activities yu cmpleted in CH 121, CH 122 and CH 123 helped yu t make cnnectins between the cntent learned in each curse.