Summary:-

Chemistry as a degree subject suffers from an image problem - hard , boring , irrelevant. As a result the number of students electing to study chemistry at degree level, in recent years, has fallen. (Briefing Paper)

To consider this problem a think-tank workshop met in February to look at ways of revitalising interest in our subject.

The main idea was to look at the success of a context-based approach to teaching chemistry such as that used by the Salter's 'A' level course and the Open University and ask "Is it possible to apply this approach to the teaching of degree level material?"

The outcomes of the workshop include the following:-

• Due to the diversity of the UK university system and associated autonomy issues - compared to 'A'-levels -, a fully integrated Salter's style course would be less acceptable than stand-alone "chunks" of material defined in terms of student effort and outcomes.(Session 2)

• By reflecting on best practice from a range of institutions, it is proposed that the best strategy for delivering a "chunk" involves using a wide range of learning processes, apart from the lecture, to deliver material around a storyline that engages interest. This approach will not only enthuse the students studying the material but also encourage other staff to try it for themselves. (Session 3)

• A survey of first year chemistry degree syllabi showed that there are a lot of topics in common to a number of Universities.(Session 4)

• Context-based materials on these common topics could be offered to all Universities eg :- Spectroscopy (Session 5)

The syllabus for this and suitable storylines are being developed. Contributions welcome!

Index:-

Briefing paper for workshop (with references)

Session 1: A Clean Sheet

Session 2: The most Viable Course Structure would be?

Session 3:- Part 1 - Been There! Got the Tshirt!

Part 2 -How best to take a chunk and change the approach to teaching it....

Session 4: What is first year Chemistry? 

Group Survey Results

Session 5: Where next?

Return to CONFCHEM98:Switching students on to science

© 1998 Karen Moss, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS

E-mail Karen.Moss@ntu.ac.uk