Hello! Maia Popova (https://chem.uncg.edu/person/popova/) and I (https://chem.wisc.edu/staff/pazicni-sam/) are putting together an NSF IUSE proposal to investigate student learning of molecular symmetry and how classroom practices influence this learning. We would greatly appreciate if VIPEr members would consider one or both of the following requests:

Hi All,

I am teaching inorganic for the second time this coming spring quarter (10 week quarter, meets twice a week, with a holiday that takes away a day) and I have decided to go more non-linearly than usual through the text (MFT). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this as a group of professors with extensive experience teaching inorganic. My students are juniors and seniors, some of which have had some p-chem, some of which have not, and most of who have not had much exposure to inorganic-like content beyond a taste in gen chem and ochem.

It is the time of year when the bookstore is hounding me for my past-due textbook selection for the fall!   It has been several years since I've taught our inorganic course at the junior/senior level with pre- and post-P-Chem students.  The last few times I've used various editions of Housecroft and Sharpe, and I'm considering that again.   I'd also be interested in what peope think of the new Miessler, Tarr, and Fischer.

Thought I'd put this here rather than the teaching since I have a link to VIPER on my syllabus and students might stumble upon it.

I am looking for some suggestions on innovative strategies for introducing the chemistry of main group elements to students.  Our Inorganic Chemistry class is a pre-pchem lecture and lab and I'll be using the 5th edition of Miessler/Fischer/Tarr.  (And a big thank you goes out to the authors, who have finally accepted to include at least a little bit of redox chemistry in the text.)  My issue arises with Chapter 8 (and the like), which in my opinion boils down to "read these sections, memorize these facts, quiz Monday".

I will need an adjunct professor to teach a Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry lab in the Spring 2014 semester, Mondays 1-5 pm. If you live nearby, and are interested, please let me know. Hofstra Universty, Hempstead, NY

Dear Fellow Vipers,

As the semester is comming to an end, I am trying to make connections between various chapters in Inorganic Chemistry by Miessler and Tarr. I have arrived at the following concept map and would like your input for further refinement. 

Sincerely,

Cliff

A Viewpoint article highlighting IONiC and VIPEr has just appeared in Articles ASAP in the journal Inorganic Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/ic2006919)!  The goal of the article is to strengthen the connections between cutting-edge research and the undergraduate classroom.  We think that IONiC and VIPEr are excellent resources to build these connections and bring the excitement of research into our undergraduate courses.