Using iPhones in the general chemistry laboratory

CHED 410

Cynthia B. Powell, powellc@acu.edu, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Abilene Christian University, 256 Foster Science, ACU Box 28132, Abilene, TX 79699-8132 and Diana Mason, dmason@unt.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305070, Denton, TX 76203-5070.
General chemistry laboratories can be a challenge for students with weak backgrounds in laboratory techniques and calculation methods. We produced brief podcast tutorials that covered essential laboratory topics for our students to access during the laboratory period as needed on iPhonesŪ or iPod TouchesŪ. The podcasts replaced the traditional laboratory lecture in one laboratory section. Data were collected on the types and numbers of interactions between the teaching assistants and students during each inquiry based laboratory session for five different sections. Our data indicate that students used the podcasts frequently and t-test results show that students in the iPhone/iPod section had to be redirected or corrected significantly fewer times than students who received the same information in a traditional lab lecture format.
 

Research in Chemical Education
1:30 PM-5:30 PM, Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Grand Hyatt -- Independence Ballroom D-E, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 238th ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 16-20, 2009