1. Developing online collaboration skills in general chemistry Scott Sinex and Ted Chambers Prince George’s Community College Largo, Maryland Presented at 2012 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education held at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

2. Why online collaboration? 2. Communication and Collaboration - Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. (ISTE NETS Students, 2011) Recommendation - Use technology in more transformative ways, such as participatory and collaborative interactions and for higher level teaching and learning that is engaging and relevant to students’ lives and future plans. (ECAR National Study of Students & Information Technology in Higher Education, 2011) Engaging in argument from evidence (NRC The Framework for K–12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas, 2012) Only lab dimensions!

3. The collaboration tool - Google Docs Use online form to collect data Examine class data in spreadsheet LCD projector and computers at lab stations for each group Use chat function to discuss class results Scenario for mock collaboration Collect student feedback too via a form Provide links on course webpage Drive

4. ClassLaboratory activityCollaboration effort In first semester General Chemistry Nuts & Bolts of Extrapolation - Massing bolt with 1 to 5 nuts Determine bolt mass by extrapolating to zero nuts Spring /Summer 2012 Masses, slope, y-intercept, r 2 ; compare via chat Lights, Color, Absorption (Beer’s Law) - calibration curve and unknown analysis To be piloted in Fall 2012 Standards, unknowns, slope, r 2 ; compare via chat as post-lab activity In second semester General Chemistry Nuts & Bolts of Let’s Make an Error - introducing systematic error; Al nut in place of stainless steel nuts Spring 2012 Errant nut location in sequence, slope, y- intercept, r 2 ; compare via chat Fe(SCN) ++ Equilibrium Constant - Multiple values done by serial dilution Since Spring 2008 Examine error as a function of serial dilution; form submission and then class results posted Online collaboration is done in…

5. Nuts & Bolts of Extrapolation See linear regression and goodness of fit in action! No prior knowledge required http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/Nuts_&_Bolts_activity.pdf Mass from y-intercept

6. The form in Google Docs submit Draft questions in order More data to add plus button Drive Very easy to create!

7. The spreadsheet in Google Docs The spreadsheet sets up from the form being developed! Can hide previous data! Drive http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex/excelets/nuts_&_bolts.xls

8. Using the chat function… Students not signed into Google Docs Drive Open chat (can bomb completely) Might improve with experience Questions posed in activity (ignore questions) “Moderated on the fly” by instructor (peer?) keeps chat productive

9. The chat function in Google Docs The chat function appears as soon as two or more people have opened the spreadsheet. Type here Groups must identify themselves Drive

10. Chat excerpt - open To capture chat: Must copy & paste into Word Spring 2012 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonky

11. Chat excerpt – “moderated on the fly” Summer 2012

12. Student feedback… 1. Using Google chat is straight forward and easy. Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Results:11 13 0 0 0 4.46 100% aggreement 2. Google chat enhanced the groups’ ability to analyze the data. Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Results:12 11 0 1 0 4.42 96% agreement 3. Using Google chat was more efficient than using hard copy and the telephone or email to discuss ideas and exchange results. Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Results:14 9 1 0 0 4.54 96% agreement 4. What is your overall rating of using Google chat during collaboration? Very Good Good Average Poor Very Poor Results:10 9 4 1 0 4.17 79% above average Summer 2012 24 students

13. Student comments… Positive – Exchange of real-time data & rapid communication regardless of location. Awesome! – It was fun & a real hands-on experiment – Quick & straight forward and don’t have to carry on a long conversation, quick & to the point Constructive – Typing in chat is time consuming & people may fall behind in the conversation (  video chat) – Some information in chat can be missed when many responds Summer 2012

14. Some final thoughts Easy way to collect class data for comparison and obtaining class statistics Moderated chat can produce some great discussion/debate (prompt for evidence) Increases student engagement & thinking Great use of 21 st century technology!!!

15. More info… Scott Sinex ssinex@pgcc.edussinex@pgcc.edu http://academic.pgcc.edu/~ssinex Ted Chambers tchambers@pgcc.edutchambers@pgcc.edu Papers – Mass, Measurement, Materials, and Mathematical Modeling: The Nuts and Bolts of Extrapolation, Spreadsheets in Education http://epublications.bond.edu.au/ejsie/vol5/iss1/3/http://epublications.bond.edu.au/ejsie/vol5/iss1/3/ Mass, Measurement, Materials, and More Mathematical Modeling: The Nuts and Bolts of Let’s Make an Error, Spreadsheets in Education to be submitted …and thanks for attending today!