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The IDEA Experiments
Enabling Genuine Inquiry in the Undergraduate Laboratory
Dr Chris Thompson, Monash University
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• Why feel the need to change anything?
The IDEA Experiments
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• Why change anything?• National Secondary Curriculum.• Old and Stale.• Students themselves change.• We have better tools.• Graduate attributes.
The IDEA Experiments
The IDEA Experiments
Inquiry Design
ExploreAnswer
?
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• Catalysing Change• Assoc Prof Les Kirkup
ALTC Fellowship
Visited Monash • Les’ Sticky Tape Exp!• Subsequently rolled out to
>50 demonstrators from chem/bio/phys at Monash.
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• Replaces the traditional recipe style experiment - no lab manual!
• Invokes a more authentic approach to science
Teamwork (3 – 4), collaborative
Ask questions, background research
• 6 Step Approach to enable genuine inquiry
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• Herron’s Hierachy of Inquiry
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• Organic Chem• Structural
Elucidation• Functional Group
Wet-tests• Synthesis• TLC• Recrystallisation
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• Cymbals• Crystal Field
Theory• Spectrophotometry• Quantitative &
Gravimetric Analysis
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• “What did you think was the main lesson to be learnt from this practical?”:
• "How to work as a scientist without any knowledge of (a) substance and determine it through experimentation"
• "Experimenters face a great deal of challenges when they are trying to find out something unknown. Even when they take all necessary precautions, they still may be faced with errors."
• "The issues and situations a chemist could experience in the field."
Student Perspectives
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• Does it work?We definitely think so!
• Is it easy to set up?Design
Demonstrators
• Are my colleagues on board?Yes, and the IDEAS are
spreading.
The IDEA Experiments
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• Does it work?We definitely think so!
• Is it easy to set up?Design
Demonstrators
• Are my colleagues on board?Yes, and the IDEAS are
spreading.
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• Where to from here?
• Transition to higher levels
• In Level 2 chemistry we’re already using fewer recipes, and diversifying assessment.
• Orals• The ‘Moot Court’.
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• Acknowledgements• The IDEA Team
Gerry Rayner
Theo Hughes
Kate-Charlton-Robb• The Chemistry Team
Mary-Rose Carroll
Dr Florence Laibe
Hayden Dickson
Ivan Martinez• Faculty of Science – Education Grant• SaMNet (esp. Cristina Varsavsky & Liz Johnson)
The IDEA Experiments
