New Courses Being Offered

We would like to introduce you to two new courses being offered by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry this fall.  We believe that these courses offer all graduate students in the sciences an opportunity to examine educational issues in the sciences.  As graduate students in the sciences, many of you may have a goal of teaching in a higher institution upon graduation.  These courses being offered will provide an opportunity to examine issues that pertain to teaching courses at the university level.  Additionally, these courses will provide you with the opportunity to begin to develop the methods you plan to use for teaching your courses.  The courses will be specific to chemistry but will be applicable to other sciences as well.

Chem 711 - Chemical Education Research              2 credits

This course is designed to provide an introduction into the primary literature and current issues on research in chemical education.  Students will survey the fundamental areas of focus such as learning theories, pedagogical methodology, assessment, and current topics of interest.  Involvement in this course will provide graduate students with information about issues related to teaching science.  The topics will engage students in discussions that will prepare them for teaching science courses.

Chem 715 - Chemistry Instruction in Higher Education      2 credits

This course is designed to introduce student to instructional processes, learning theories, and issues specific to chemistry instruction in higher education. Topics include learning theory in the context of chemistry, lecture and laboratory settings, assessment strategies, demonstrations, and group work.  This course will engage students in discourse about teaching with the goal of helping students develop tools for teaching chemistry at higher education institutions.