Abstract:This article reports the results of a curriculum survey of 322 analytical chemistry instructors (92% U.S.-based) conducted during Spring 2021. This snapshot of current course formats, topics, and pedagogical methods will be useful to both seasoned and novice teachers of analytical chemistry. The majority of respondents reported that their major requires two analytical chemistry courses, and 97% of respondents reported that at least one analytical course is required. Over 80% reported a required analytical lab … Show more
“…A recent survey of analytical chemistry instructors found that chromatographic theory, HPLC instrumentation, and GC instrumentation were rated as some of the most important topics in the curriculum (Fig. 1 ) [ 41 ]. In virtual learning environments, hybrid approaches that combine synchronous, real-time instruction with asynchronous, on-demand content access have been widely adopted [ 42 , 43 ].…”
“…1 General results of survey of analytical chemistry instructors on topics covered in their courses organized by average rating of importance. Reprinted with permission from [ 41 ] (Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society) Fig. 2 Primary user interface of the ‘Practical HPLC Simulator’ program.…”
A number of recommendations on how to improve the education and training of separation scientists were recently made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics in their report, A Research Agenda for Transforming Separation Science. This perspective outlines how some of these recommendations may be fulfilled by examining trends in potential curriculum topics related to the field and new technological platforms for interactive content delivery. Identifying and adopting the best practices within these emerging educational directions will ensure the future success of the field.
“…A recent survey of analytical chemistry instructors found that chromatographic theory, HPLC instrumentation, and GC instrumentation were rated as some of the most important topics in the curriculum (Fig. 1 ) [ 41 ]. In virtual learning environments, hybrid approaches that combine synchronous, real-time instruction with asynchronous, on-demand content access have been widely adopted [ 42 , 43 ].…”
“…1 General results of survey of analytical chemistry instructors on topics covered in their courses organized by average rating of importance. Reprinted with permission from [ 41 ] (Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society) Fig. 2 Primary user interface of the ‘Practical HPLC Simulator’ program.…”
A number of recommendations on how to improve the education and training of separation scientists were recently made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics in their report, A Research Agenda for Transforming Separation Science. This perspective outlines how some of these recommendations may be fulfilled by examining trends in potential curriculum topics related to the field and new technological platforms for interactive content delivery. Identifying and adopting the best practices within these emerging educational directions will ensure the future success of the field.
“…All areas of chemistry and other science and engineering disciplines highly rely on this branch of measurement science. Current undergraduate courses focus on lectures which provide depth on the core principles of conducting measurements (e.g., accuracy, precision, sample preparation, sampling, and validation) and the theory on how instruments or techniques work (e.g., titrimetric analysis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and chromatography). − These lectures are contextualized through practical work, providing opportunities to understand instrumentation and enhance practical skills. ,, It is often practical skills that are essential to enhance the employability prospects of analytical chemistry graduates. , …”
Accuracy and precision are measures of experimental error and are fundamental to most chemical analysis laboratory classes. Assessment of accuracy and precision is often based on the comprehension of the results generated by students rather than on the quality of the data generated. This activity focused on developing a chemical analysis laboratory class which focused solely on assessing the accuracy and precision of the data generated by students through a series of assays they conducted by following the British Pharmacopoeia monograph for paracetamol tablets. Students were given two attempts to conduct each assay. Guidance and feedback on the students' experimental practice was provided after the first attempt, to educate students on how they could improve the accuracy and precision of the data generated. For all assays conducted, the accuracy and precision was improved in the second attempt. Students felt the pressure of being assessed solely on accuracy and precision but found that this laboratory class enhanced their confidence in generating accurate data. Overall, students felt that this class provided a reflective experience of working within the chemical industry and thus provided a key activity to enhance student employability.
“…2 The analytical chemistry curriculum has been surveyed. 3 Efforts to understand the inorganic curriculum via a national survey have also been recently been reported. 4 Thus, while there has been some level of stability related to the chemistry content within subdisciplines, the very nature of chemistry and discoveries within the science have always encouraged creative thought about what students should learn in any given area of the field.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Relatively recent efforts to characterize the “threads of the warp” include analysis of general chemistry content considering patterns in testing . The analytical chemistry curriculum has been surveyed . Efforts to understand the inorganic curriculum via a national survey have also been recently been reported .…”
Academic journals, including the Journal of Chemical
Education, are repositories of individual works from communities
of scholars.
Often the use of information from journals is discrete, operating
at the level of the individual article. Indeed, the use of search
engines and rapid electronic delivery of individual articles as a
PDF file has likely exacerbated this tendency. For chemistry education,
National Chemistry Week presents an opportunity to contemplate the
larger picture, woven as if a tapestry, for the teaching and learning
of chemistry. Even a brief synopsis of a small fraction of articles
in this Journal shows that taking such a broad point
of view reveals a field that is constantly creating a dynamic pathway
for students to find their favorite piece of the picture of chemistry.
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