Deliver A Curriculum Appropriate For Understanding Instrumental Analytical Methods In Chemistry
The curriculum will provide students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area of instrumental analytical methods in chemistry.
Objective
Demonstrate Understanding Of Instrumental Analytical Methods In Chemistry
The modern analytical laboratory makes extensive use of electronic instrumentation for the analysis of chemical samples. Our Instrumental Analytical Chemistry course (CHM 440) is designed to introduce students to and have them learn the importance and use of spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and mass spectrometric analytical instrumental methods and computers in analytical laboratories. The course's laboratory component includes a focus on complex technical writing and use of the scientific literature. Students must master this material to meet the objective. Dr. Thomas Chasteen has been the instructor for all sections of CHM 440 for more than a decade.
Indicator
Examinations In Instrumental Analytical Chemistry
All students in Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (CHM 440) are required to master the electronic, sampling, schematic, and computational fundamentals of modern analytical instrumentation as evaluated by 80-minute written tests requiring essays, laboratory data evaluation, and calculator-based computation. There are three tests and a final examination in this course. The testing of this knowledge and its application is standardized within the department across all sections.
Criterion
75% Of Chemistry Majors Meeting Expectations
Seventy-five percent of chemistry majors are expected to score within one standard deviation of the mean or higher than one standard deviation above the mean on the four examinations in this class.
Finding
Performance On CHM 440 Exams
On the first exam, 82% of the 22 students scored within one standard deviation of the mean or higher. On the second exam, the percent result was identical. On the third exam, 77% of the students scored within one standard deviation of the mean or higher. On the final exam, 82% of the students met the scoring criterion. Overall, the criterion was met. Clearly learning for the third exam was a little weaker. This curricular area includes complex reagent mixtures, HPLC schematics, and nondispersive versus dispersive IR spectrometers. Last year, the weaker area was evident from the first exam. Thus, students improved slightly in areas of Jablonski diagrams, chromium emissions, and calibration procedures. Still, the fluctuations from year to year are expected.
Action
Improve Instrumental Performance
We will work to determine if there are more innovative ways for students to encode the learning for the specific areas presented in the last third of the semester as well as the entire semester.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum Appropriate For Mastery Of Advanced Chemistry Topics
The curriculum will provide students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area of advanced chemistry topics.
Objective
Demonstrate Mastery Of Advanced Topics In Chemistry
The material learned by the third year in the chemistry curriculum is refined and supported theoretically in Physical Chemistry I (CHM 448). The successful student will demonstrate a mastery of the advanced topics presented in this course. These topics include quantum theory, wave functions, the dipole approximation, electronic configuration, molecular structure, molecular orbital diagrams, symmetry, group theory, and the application of these topics to X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, Raman, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. All sections of CHM 448 have been taught by Dr. Darren Williams since his arrival at SHSU in 2004.
Indicator
CHM 448 Final Examination
CHM 448 is required of all chemistry majors. The final examination in Physical Chemistry I (CHM 448), written by Dr. Darren Williams, is recognized by the faculty of the Department of Chemistry as being comprehensive and covers all of the advanced topics listed in the objective statement. Dr. Williams is the sole instructor of CHM 448 at SHSU having taught all sections of CHM 448 since his arrival on campus in 2004. All students are required to complete the final examination. Examples of final exams are on file and secured within the Department of Chemistry and may be viewed by contacting Dr. Williams directly at williams@shsu.edu.
Criterion
75% Of Chemistry Majors Scoring At Least 60%
Seventy-five percent of chemistry majors are expected to demonstrate a mastery of at least sixty percent of the material (score 60%) on the comprehensive final examination.
Finding
Physical Chemistry Final Exam Results
Of the 31 chemistry and forensic chemistry majors that took the CHM 448 (physical chemistry I) final, 30 scored 60% or higher, for a passing rate of 97%. Criterion met. In fact, the percentage of target scores was slightly higher this year when compared to 91% last year. The increased emphasis on molecular orbital theory had little, if any, impact on student performance in this area.
Action
Increase Physical Chemistry Performance
The increased coverage of molecular orbital theory has had little if any impact on student performance in this area. Since it is unclear if this outcome is section specific, we will assess this next year as well. Student performance in Physical Chemistry I will be assessed for improvement.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum With Appropriate Written And Oral Communication Skills Developed
The curriculum will provide opportunities for mastery of written and oral skills..
Objective
Demonstrate Adequate Written And Oral Communication
Students will demonstrate the ability to present to an audience of their peers a talk (seminar) based on their own research or research that has been reported in the scientific literature.
Indicator
Chemistry Seminar Presentation
All chemistry majors are required to take CHM 410 "Chemical Literature Seminar". Students typically do so in their senior year. One of the requirements of this course is giving an oral PowerPoint presentation over either their own research, or research from the published chemical literature, to the other students in the class.
Criterion
Acceptable Peer-Review Rating
All chemistry majors are required to receive an acceptable peer-rating on a required research presentation. Within the course, each student evaluates all other student presentations. The rubric is the last page of the syllabus.
Finding
Seminar Presentation
All students received an acceptable peer-rating on their presentations. Unfortunately, students tend to rate peers too highly to gain any helpful information.
Action
Seminar Actions
To have the students take the rating exercise seriously and provide relevant feedback, we will be reviewing with the audience participants how important feedback is so that the speakers can receive feedback in a manner in which they may feel more safe so that they make the appropriate changes when they are in more professional speaking situations. Since the audience will, at one time, be the speaker, we will emphasize that the feedback will be important to each of them as well. We may revise the evaluation form to emphasize the providing what the atrengths of the presentation or and what the weaknesses. Anonymity is another issue; however, we cannot check participation without some form of identification.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum Appropriate For Understanding Organic Chemistry
The curriculum will provide students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area organic chemistry.
Objective
Demonstrate Understanding Of Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is covered in the second year of a chemistry degree. It follows a year of general chemistry and precedes physical chemistry.
Students will demonstrate competent knowledge of the topics covered in organic chemistry I and II which include: hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes and alkynes), aromatic systems, functional group chemistry (including the chemistry of alkyl halides, ethers and various carbonyl compounds), stereochemistry, and carbohydrate chemistry.
Indicator
ACS Organic Chemistry Test
A nationally standardized test over organic chemistry (written by the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education Examinations Institute) will be given to all chemistry majors who take organic chemistry II at Sam Houston State University. This test is given as the final examination for the course.
Criterion
ACS Organic Chemistry Examination Score
Seventy-five percent of chemistry majors are expected to score within one standard deviation of the mean or higher than one standard deviation above the mean on the ACS standardized organic chemistry examination.
Finding
ACS Organic Chemistry Result
Of the 17 forensic chemistry and chemistry majors who took the exam (for whom we have data at hand), 15 (88%) scored within one standard deviation of the mean or higher on the ACS standardized organic chemistry examination. Criterion met for these students. However, although the number is small and conclusions are difficult to determine regarding statistical probability, chemistry majors tended to do better than forensic chemistry majors.
Another issue we addressed this year was the text used. Faculty believed the previous text omitted essential information for students to understand the concepts. We saw better learning outcomes as a result.
Action
Organic Chemistry
In comparison to last year, for the limited data available, the results are promising. We will work to determine where the forensic chemistry majors struggle when compared to the chemistry majors. Here, again, we need to work with ACS to glean more information about areas of strength and areas of weakness among our students.
Goal
Deliver A Curriculum Appropriate For Understanding Fundamentals Of Chemistry
The curriculum will address the discipline specific knowledge dictated by professional societies and/or professionals in the workforce.
Objective
Demonstrate Understanding Of Fundamentals
Chemistry is an intensely sequential discipline. Students must master the material at an average level of understanding in the first semester course (general chemistry I) before they are allowed to attempt the second semester course (general chemistry II). The same is true for each of the first five semester courses in the sequence (general chemistry I, general chemistry II, organic chemistry I, organic chemistry II and physical chemistry I).
The fundamental concepts covered in general chemistry I and II include: uncertainty in measurement, dimensional analysis, atomic and electronic structure, ionic and molecular formulas, nomenclature, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, bonding theories, valence shell electron pair repulsion theory, properties of gases, intermolecular forces, properties of solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, oxidation-reduction chemistry, chemical thermodynamics and electrochemistry.
Indicator
American Chemical Society (ACS) General Chemistry Test
All chemistry majors will be invited to take a nationally standardized test over general chemistry (written by the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education Examinations Institute) near their completion of general chemistry II. In order to encourage participation, the highest individual score is guaranteed scholarship money for a future semester, and additional scholarship monies will be scaled to percentile performance on the examination.
Criterion
ACS General Chemistry Examination Score
Sixty percent of chemistry majors are expected to score within one standard deviation of the mean or higher than one standard deviation above the mean on the ACS standardized general chemistry examination.
Finding
ACS General Chemistry Result
Of the 19 students that took the exam (71 were invited to do so), 15 (79%) scored within one standard deviation of the mean or higher on the ACS standardized general chemistry examination. Criterion met for those students who took the exam. Overall, the participation rate for the academic year was 4/21 = 19% for chemistry majors, 15/50 = 30% for chemistry minors, and 19/71 = 27% overall. It is difficult to determine specific strengths and weaknesses with such a small number of participants from each area.
Action
Fundamental Knowledge
Continue offering the ACS General Chemistry exam to chemistry and forensic chemistry majors as they finish CHM 139 (General Chemistry II). The scholarship money still seems to be a good incentive, and we hope to get increased participation. The number of individuals participating increased this year, but the participation rate was the same. We clearly need to focus attention on increasing percentage participation for students, beyond the many efforts already made, so that we have a true assessment of student learning.
Additionally, we need to work with the ACS to determine how we can glean more information from the results: (1) determine where our students excel, and (2) determine where our students struggle.