Discussion sections for Introductory Chemistry

CHED 52

Bob Blake, bob.blake@ttu.edu, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061 and Kent A. Chambers, chambers@hsutx.edu, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Hardin Simmons University, 2200 Hickory, Abilene, TX 79698.
Discussion sections were added to the Introductory Chemistry course at Texas Tech University with NSF funding (DUE 9950575). The motivation behind this pedagogical change and development of the discussion sections was to increase retention through the first semester of general chemistry. The success of the project was evaluated with a statistical analysis of student performance on exams, student grade distributions, student retention to general chemistry and relative student performance in general chemistry. The experimental group was compared to historical student performance, their peers who did not participate in the intervention and the group of students who took the course after the discussion sections ceased. The reimplementation of the discussion sections is in progress and will be described with plans for future evaluation of the project.
 

Research in Chemical Education
1:30 PM-4:55 PM, Sunday, March 25, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227A, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007