Electronic chemistry conferences: Seven years of CONFCHEM Scott E. Van Bramer, Donald Rosenthal Brian M. Tissue

History of CONFCHEM

First Conference Summer 1993 Applications of Technology in Teaching Chemistry, An On-Line Computer Conference 450 participants FTP, Gopher, Listserv

14 Subsequent Conferences 1995 Faculty Rewards: Can We Implement the Scholarship of teaching? 1996 New Initiatives in Chemical Education 1997 On-line Chemistry Education Conference

Subsequent Conferences 1998 On-Line Conference on Chemical Education Switching Students on to Science

Subsequent Conferences 1999 Chemical Demonstrations Trial Session Proposals For Change in the Introductory Chemistry Course General Papers in Chemical Education Distance and Collaborative Education Using the Internet What Should Students Know When They Leave General Chemistry? Teaching Spectroscopy

Subsequent Conferences 2000 The Role and Nature of Research by Undergraduates in Chemistry The Use of Computer Simulations in General Chemistry Assessment of Model Creation and Use by Chemistry Students

Subsequent Conferences 2001 Lecture Demonstrations in Chemistry on the World Wide Web Environmental Issues and Risk/Benefit Analysis in the K to 12 Curriculum* On-Line Teaching Methods*

Structure of CONFCHEM Papers Discussion Timeline Archiving

Papers 10 pages Links Multimedia –images –CHIME –video/audio

Discussion Listserv Majordomo 600 to 800 registrants 50 countries 50 messages per week

Timeline Read papers Short questions via Listserv Response from author Discussion

Archiving Papers Discussion –search –threaded Hit Rates (per week) –CONFCHEM home page 50 hits –Past sessions 15 hits –past papers 0-30 hits

Organization of CONFCHEM Topic selection Soliciting authors Posting papers Managing discussion

Advantages of On-line Conferences Author Participant Logistics

Author Advantages Depth Feedback Wide audience Archiving Asynchronous discussion

Participant Advantages More detail Multimedia Discussion –quantity (20 to 40 per paper) –quality –asynchronous

Logistics Advantages Low attendance cost Very wide audience Timing and scheduling Low barriers Asynchronous discussion

Disadvantages of On-line Conferences Author Participant Logistics

Author Disadvantages Prior publication Abstracting Professional recognition No personal contact

Participant Disadvantages Confusing threads No personal contact Poor discussion Time consuming –read papers –read

Logistics Disadvantages Technical difficulties Small number of papers Permanence

Conference Format Easy access Easy technology Promote discussion

Other On-line Conferences

International Electronic Conference on Synthetic Organic Chemistry Online poster session with Listserv

Electronic Conference on Heterocyclic Chemistry. Online conference with Listserv

Format Changes Forum or discussion board Whiteboard Abstracting by CA CD-ROM Cost

Acknowledgments ACS Division of Chemical Education CCCE Tom O’Haver Donald Rosenthal Brian Tissue CONFCHEM participants

Questions http//

Evaluation Results CHEMCONF ‘97 9% response –Papers 3.8/5.0 –Discussion 3.5/5.0 –Overall 4.0/5.0

Evaluation Results Number of papers 11 Papers read 7.5 Time reading papers 5.6 hours Time for discussion 13 hours