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Linking Laboratory Experiences to the Real World: The Extraction of Octylphenoxyacetic Acid from Water

“…A common topic of discussion in this and other education-related publications is the lack of connection between chemical concepts introduced in the classroom and their applications in the real world (1,2); students usually complain about this and even dismiss laboratory exercises as "not real science" (3)(4)(5). In the particular case of nonchemistry majors (engineering or biology in our case), the problem is aggravated because, according to the students themselves, they are not interested in chemistry or fail to see the need for basic chemical knowledge in their fields.…”

Thinking Outside the Classroom: Integrating Field Trips into a First-Year Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum

“…They tend to be highly visual learners and, seemingly more than students of even just a few years ago, to be interested in learning concepts that can be shown to have direct importance to their personal lives or career goals. While this is by no means universal, there is ample evidence that this characterization typifies the average student (2,9,10). Much of this work points to the need to connect what students learn in class with what they see and experience in their daily lives.…”

“…One of the most commonly cited reasons for recent marked enrollment declines in post-secondary chemistry programs is the lack of connection between chemical concepts taught in lectures and their real-world applications (1)(2)(3). As a result, students are unable to relate the chemistry they are studying with their personal experiences (4)(5)(6)(7)(8).…”

“…Educators have spent significant time in recent decades trying to address the perceived shortfall of existing post-secondary curricula by incorporating a variety of strategies into science lectures and laboratories through projects or assignments (2,7,(19)(20)(21) and laboratories using real samples (5,22). While there is a substantial body of work detailing the use of field trips in pre-university education (2,(12)(13)(14), a less robust literature exists that provides examples of field trips that integrate concepts learned in a university chemistry curriculum ( 22-27, including several historical short essays on the topic). Of the more recent literature, Hartman describes a series of upper-level industrial chemical plant tours integrated into an industrial chemistry course to motivate a deeper understanding of the chemical industry (23).…”

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Mapping of Environmental Samples across College Campuses

“…One method for engaging students in the laboratory is to focus on real-world applications of chemistry that affect them (1,2). Through these examples, students better understand the objectives and purpose of the experiment (3).…”