More than lab reports: Integrating information literacy and writing-to- learn in organic chemistry labs Tiffany Turner, Glenn Blalock, Carol Schuetz Baylor University, Waco, TX

Outline Purpose for the changes Background on Baylor and CHE 3238 Curriculum Changes –Information Literacy –Portfolio Assignments Sustainability –What happens now?

Purpose A sequence of discipline-specific, writing-to-learn and information literacy activities was integrated into the organic chemistry lab (CHE 3238) at Baylor University for two semesters (Spring-Summer 2007) Engage students more fully in the process of learning how to think and to work in ways that will characterize their future professional identities. –intended to expand students' experiences with researching chemistry scholarship, with reading chemistry articles, and with writing discipline-specific genres other than lab reports. Assessment of these curricular revisions included surveys, focus groups, and primary trait analyses of student writing.

Teaching Commons A conceptual space in which communities of educators committed to inquiry and innovation come together to exchange ideas about teaching and learning, and use them to meet the challenges of educating students for personal, professional, and civic life. Began in Fall 2006 at BU- Interest in WAC –Glenn- English Professor –Carol- University Libraries –Tiffany- Chemistry Grad Student Weekly meetings to discuss WAC and IL papers and the curriculum changes in Organic Chemistry –Goals, outcomes, assessment, grading rubrics

Baylor University Location: Waco, TX Enrollment: 11,800 undergraduate (2,200 graduate) Big XII- smallest in conference Mission statement- to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Total Undergraduates: 268 –Biochemistry (BA/BS): 52/139 –Chemistry (BA/BS): 13/64 –Graduates for 2007: 29 (28 Pre-Med, 3 ACS certified)

CHE 3238 One semester organic chemistry lab (2 credit) –Taken with or after Organic II (CHE 3332) –Spring 2007 enrollment: 196 students 32 Chem/Biochem (16%) 151 students are “Pre-” (77%) –Summer enrollment: 22 students 5 Chem/Biochem (23%) 21 students are “Pre-” (95%) –Anticipated Fall 2007: 200 students

Challenges Previous Curriculum Weekly discussion of separation and characterization techniques, and reactions common to organic chemistry and then are used or carried out in experiments. 2 professors 12 TAs Fall/Spring (graduate/undergraduate), 6 TAs Summer 17 experiments over 9 weeks –Scantron quizzes at beginning of each experiment –Fill-in worksheets due at the end of the experiment or next class –Each experiment graded by 1 TA –Final given at end of semester (weekly lecture) Students’ perception –Easy A, little work and prep needed, take during a busy semester, wait till graduation semester to complete requirement TA’s perception –Waste of time, no interest in organic chemistry, frustration with students and assignments, lack of communication

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday Aug 20 th No Lab the first 2 weeks of class. However, the once-a-week Lab Lecture does start the first week of classes 27 th Sept 3 rd Safety & Check-in (Intro)Basic Skills Lab 10 th Isolation of CholesterolIsolation of Limonene 17 th Isolation of Caffeine (Cancelled)Fractional Distillation 24 th Elimination ReactionAcylation of Trimethylazulene Oct 1 st Free Radical Chlorination (Computer Lab)Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution 8 th No Lab 15 th Soap from LardA Diels Alder Reaction 22 nd Esterification ReactionHydrolysis of an Ester 29 th TetraphenylcyclopentadieneoneSynthesis of Benzoin Nov 5 th Synthesis of BenzilSynthesis of Benzilic Acid 12 th Check Out Fall 2005

Changes New Curriculum Beyond a basic exposure to techniques common to organic techniques, we chose to focus on: –Understanding chemical concepts through writing Mechanisms, techniques, terminology –Exposure to chemical literature and the process of discerning information Library use, database searching, deconstructing chemical articles, use of chemistry in the real world –Critical thinking skills –Side goal: increase student confidence in the lab and discussing chemistry

Changes New Curriculum 2 professors (1 for Spring 2007) –Created Head TA position Created grading rubrics and answer keys for all assignments experiments over weeks –8 Portfolio assignments (20% of final grade) –4 Information literacy assignments –4 Instrument Use assignments –Lab Practical Students’ perception (initial) –Too much work, too hard, worthless class, writing is pointless in chemistry TA’s perception (initial) –Too much work, not confident in comprehension of organic chemistry, I’m not an English major- I can’t grade students’ writings

Schedule Summer 2007Tuesday (2-5PM) Wednesday (2-5PM)Thursday (2-5PM) Portfolio Due Dates 5/29 - 5/31 Info Literacy Nobel Chemist Chem Review Writing in Science Library-Scavenger Hunt Instrument Use (IR) Nobel worksheet and article due Thursday in class 6/5 - 6/7 Check-In Basic Skills Writing AbstractPeer ReviewCarvone Abstract due Wednesday in class Revised Abstract due Friday (BB) 6/12 - 6/14 Simple DistillationInstrument Use (GC) Fractional Distillation Writing Procedure 6/19 - 6/21 RadicalChlorination Library Comp Lab- database Diels-Alder Writing R&DElimination of alcohols Procedure due Tuesday in class Revised Procedure due Wednesday (BB and class) 6/26 - 6/28 Spinach Ester & Hydrolysis Writing IntroductionNEW LAB R&D due Friday (BB) 7/3 - 7/5NO CLASSHOLIDAYNO CLASS Introduction due Friday (BB) 7/10 - 7/12 TMA Writing Impact NAS Writing Final Paper Instrument Use (GC/MS) Library- Ref Works Impact due Friday (BB) 7/17 - 7/19 BenzoinBenzilBenzilic Acid 7/24 - 7/26 Instrument Use (NMR)Chem ReviewMakeUp Labs (Ferrocene) Final Paper due Friday (BB) 7/31 - 8/2 MakeUp Labs (Cholesterol) Check-Out Portfolio DUE NO CLASS 8/7 - 8/8Lab Practical

Assessment of Changes Initial Survey on information literacy and the students comfort level with searching for information and using library resources –30% very comfortable using library resources –60% somewhat comfortable –20% often use the library to research and locate materials –65% sometimes use the library –98% were able to recognize the definition for information literacy Many did not know the ability to find and use information correctly was called information literacy

Assessment of Changes Focus Groups –Before you took this course, what experiences did you have with? Writing, research, using library databases, reading scholarly articles in chemistry –Why do you think your teachers integrated research activities in the lab course? –In which lab did the writing help you understand the concepts/purpose of the lab? –When you started your research, where did you begin to look for information and where do you look now? Portfolio Discussion with a TA during the Lab Practical –Worst/Best writing and why –Probed understanding of reactions performed in class Elimination, Diels-Alder, Esterification/Hydrolysis, Addition, Oxidation

Information Literacy Assignments Nobel Chemist/Discerning online information (Eileen Bentsen) –Expose students to searching for chemical information and to think about credibility and validity of online information Scavenger Hunt (Carol Schuetz and library staff) –Increase students’ confidence in using chemistry resources available in the library Look at Ref QD 8.5.A25. What is the name of the style guide for chemists? Database Searching (Carol Schuetz) –Reintroduce students to BearCat (online catalog) and expose students to common chemistry databases (EBSCO, ScienceDirect, ACS) RefWorks (Billie Peterson-Lugo) –Introduce students to the online bibliographic management program as a way to manage collected information

Portfolio Assignments Abstract (Diels-Alder) –Pick out and summarize important information from a scientific paper –Student comments: how can one tiny paragraph be so frustrating and horrible Not sure what to do Not comfortable with reading scientific articles- difficult terminology Became routine when working on the final paper –Future: summary worksheet followed by writing an abstract at a later date Peer Review –Emphasize team work and writing for understanding –Student comments: Very helpful but wanted more reviews from TAs (experts) –Future: weave peer reviews (student and TA) into all assignments (in- class or as take-home)

Portfolio Assignments Procedure (Diels-Alder) –Familiarize students with procedures in a scientific article and increase confidence in writing a procedure Student understanding and confidence with stoichiometry –Student comments: busy work, afraid they couldn’t follow their own procedure, liberating and enjoyed the independence Preferred reading/writing in paragraph form rather than a list Less procedural questions and more free thinking about techniques and observations/interpretations –Future: choose a different experiment or have them rewrite an earlier procedure

Portfolio Assignments Results & Discussion (Elimination of an alcohol) –Understand their own experimental results and relate to the textbook reaction (substrates, conditions, yields, rules for formation) –Student comments: really enjoyed the assignment E1 finally clicks and why it’s different than substitution Understand why profs always harp on carbocation formation Teamwork: key to understanding the experiment –Assessment: During the Lab Practical, students were able to answer questions about the experiment and convey their understanding through “what if” scenarios Used references in the assignment and looked for additional information

Portfolio Assignments Introduction (Esterification of an alcohol/Hydrolysis of an ester) –Understand the reactions in the experiment and the purpose of TLC (polarity and intermolecular forces) –Student comments: mixed views by students (loved it, hated it) Students are still confused about polarity (Lab Practical and discussion of concepts) Difficult for students who write from beginning to end, easier for students who write in sections Impact (compare websites on an organic chemistry topic and relate to understanding and learning) –Use information literacy skills to communicate knowledge about a topic –Student comments: creative busy work –Future: rethink assignment and goal

Portfolio Assignments Final Paper (Benzaldehyde to Benzilic acid in 3 steps) –Understand the reactions and techniques in the experiments and show understanding of writing scientifically –Student comments: on average it was enjoyable and they felt proud of their work Nice to see an entire paper in their own words Became easier to write after the initial assignments Reflective Overview –Self reflection on learning about chemistry through writing –Student comments: more worried about the grade received for writing assignments Realized the “Big Picture” of learning through writing Not afraid of scientific literature anymore (less cut & paste for other classes)

What I’ve learned Two months is not enough time to revamp a course Organization is key –Consistency of grading (rubrics and answer keys) –Consistency of communication (TAs, professors, students) Teamwork and collaboration –Teaching commons group was an invaluable resource –Professors willing to try something new and support it Open to critical statements –Student rebellion Students will rise up to high standards –Summer-Fall 2006: 60% passing rate –Spring-Summer 2007: 85% passing rate

Sustainability of changes What the future holds Professor dedicated to the changes Head TA dedicated to students learning and understanding of organic chemistry (Eric Bauch) Consistent Grading (TAs for each section only grade their section) –Rubrics for writing assignments –Answer Keys for worksheets Weekly TA meetings to discuss each experiment and assignment Constant feedback from students and TAs

Acknowledgements Glenn Blalock and Carol Schuetz Drs. Paul Primrose and Jesse Jones –Organic TAs and students Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry Dr. Charles Garner –Garner Group –Eric Bauch More Information: