Alchemist apprentice: Inquiry-based gas chromatography experiments

CHED 1501

Karen L. Steelman, ksteel@uca.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Central Arkansas, 205 Laney Hall, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72035
Using the reality television show, The Apprentice, as a model for group projects, Quantitative Analysis students learned about gas chromatography/mass spectrometry by establishing a mock chemical analysis business. Students were exposed to collaborative applied science by conducting two projects requiring standard curves and derivatization. The learning objectives targeted by these projects include use of instruments, procedure development, use of the chemical literature, and scientific writing. As a starting point, students were provided with a literature paper and previous student work on the project. Students were required to write their own laboratory procedures and then conduct the necessary analyses in the laboratory. Finally, students presented their results in the form of a journal article and a formal presentation. This talk will describe the essential components of successful implementation of this instructional method and present results from student evaluation surveys.