Using CASPiE as an introduction to research for pre-college students

CHED 1752

Michael Dianovsky, dianovsk@uic.edu, Stephanie A. Cunningham, scunni2@uic.edu, and Donald J. Wink, dwink@uic.edu. Department of Chemistry (MC 111), University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607
This paper will describe the use of two CASPiE modules--band gap analysis of zinc oxide and antioxidants--in conjunction with a University of Illinois at Chicago program for entering college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. The program, ASCEND, is itself separately funded by the NSF through the STEM Talent Expantion Program (STEP). One of the objectives of ASCEND is to support students in their preparation for chemistry and, by the end of their first year of residence, to have them engage in research. The CASPiE modules serve this function, and in addition provide an environment for strong student-student interactions. Use of the modules is more challenging, however, because the modules are functioning on their own, without a linked lecture course.