Developing a skills-based practical chemistry programme: an integrated, spiral curriculum approach

Campbell Craig D.; Midson Megan O.; Bergstrom Mann Patrick E.; Cahill Samuel T.; Green Nicholas J. B.; Harris Matthew T.; Hibble Simon J.; O’Sullivan Saskia K. E.; To Trang; Rowlands Lucy J.; Smallwood Zoe M.; Vallance Claire; Worrall Andrew F.; Stewart Malcolm I.

doi:10.1515/cti-2022-0003

Chemistry Teacher International (May 2022)

Developing a skills-based practical chemistry programme: an integrated, spiral curriculum approach

Campbell Craig D.,
Midson Megan O.,
Bergstrom Mann Patrick E.,
Cahill Samuel T.,
Green Nicholas J. B.,
Harris Matthew T.,
Hibble Simon J.,
O’Sullivan Saskia K. E.,
To Trang,
Rowlands Lucy J.,
Smallwood Zoe M.,
Vallance Claire,
Worrall Andrew F.,
Stewart Malcolm I.

Affiliations

Campbell Craig D.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Midson Megan O.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Bergstrom Mann Patrick E.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Cahill Samuel T.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Green Nicholas J. B.: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK
Harris Matthew T.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Hibble Simon J.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
O’Sullivan Saskia K. E.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
To Trang: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Rowlands Lucy J.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Smallwood Zoe M.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Vallance Claire: The Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
Worrall Andrew F.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
Stewart Malcolm I.: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2022-0003
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 3
pp. 243 – 257

Abstract

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Teaching practical laboratory skills is a key component of preparing undergraduate students for future careers in chemistry and elsewhere. In this paper, we present our new strategy to teach practical skills to undergraduate chemistry students. We report a Skills Inventory, a list of the suggested practical skills a graduate chemist should possess; this list was compiled by chemists across the UK. In our new practical course we begin by decoupling the practical skill from the theoretical background, compelling students to first master the basic processes needed to carry out a specific technique. In what we have termed a ‘spiral curriculum’ approach, skills are revisited on multiple occasions, with increasing complexity and greater emphasis on underlying theory. The new course makes links across traditional subdisciplines of chemistry to avoid compartmentalisation of ideas.

Published in Chemistry Teacher International

ISSN: 2569-3263 (Online)
Publisher: De Gruyter
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/cti/html

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