Sheila's Safety Net
Collection of Safety LOs from VIPEr
NIST Standard Reference Databases
Description
The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Standard Reference Databases provides valuable resources. Two resources were specifically mentioned by respondents to the 2013 Inorganic Curriculum Survey: the webbook and the stability constants of metal complexes. Some of the data in the Chemistry WebBook include
Education Resources at Beloit College - Materials Chemistry, Nanoscience and Solid State Chemistry
Description
The resources on this website will help students learn concepts in materials chemistry, solid state chemistry, and nanoscience. The website provides links to
Web Resources from the 2013 Inorganic Curriculum Survey
In the 2013 Inorganic Curriculum Survey, respondents were asked about the resources they used when they teach inorganic chemistry. About 20% of respondents selected "other" and provided information about these resources. A number of people mentioned specific websites. This collection consists of the websites submitted in the survey.
Developing effective student learning groups
Description
Asking students to work in groups and developing group projects is always challenging. This 5-slides about describes approaches for increasing the effectiveness and success of student groups. It also contains some helpful links to resources on how to form groups and help students develop group skills.
What Can Go Wrong: A Research Lab Safety Activity
Description
Late in their junior year and into the first two months of their senior year, chemistry majors at Willamette write and submit a research proposal. Shortly before entering the lab for their thesis work, I lead this activity that takes place in our Senior Projects seminar class. The class meets one hour per week and we cover topics such as how to write an effective grant proposal, ethics in science, presenting data, etc., as well as this safety activity.
Learning from UCLA
Description
This learning object is designed to spark discussion and educate students taking an inorganic chemistry course about laboratory safety. It uses the article "Learning from UCLA" by Jyllian N. Kemsley (Chemical & Engineering News (2009), Vol. 87 Issue 31, pp.
Trap-to-Trap Distillation of Volatile Organic Liquids (Polyhalomethanes)
Description
This lab exercise uses air-stable compounds (polyhalomethanes) to demonstrate trap-to-trap distillation, a technique used to separate air-sensitive compounds. The apparatus (including part numbers from CHEMGLASS) is described. In addition, slush baths are employed, which are a novelty for our Inorganic Laboratory course and a source of amazement for the students. The separation of the compounds (the percentage each compound in each trap) is determined by 1H NMR.
A Living Syllabus for Sophomore Level Inorganic Chemistry
Description
In my sophomore level inorganic course, I have experimented with the idea of a living syllabus as a way to develop my own specific learning objectives and to help the students connect the material to the tasks that will be expected of them in assessing their learning.
The Japan syndrome
Description
This is an in-class discussion of an article that appeared in The Economist. It can be used to review several topics covered in the first year chemistry class.