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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > September  >
Research: Science and Education
Curricular Change Digests
Gradualism: A Method for Primary Instruction on Spectroscopic Analysis in Introductory Organic Chemistry
Christopher W. Alexander, Gary L. Asleson, Charles F. Beam, Marion T. Doig, Frederick J. Heldrich*, and Shannon Studer-Martinez
College of Charleston, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Charleston, SC 29424-0001

Cover
September 1999
Vol. 76 No. 9
p. 1297

Abstract
The pedagogical style of gradualism is described for the instruction of spectroscopic analysis in the introductory organic chemistry laboratory. Gradualism is defined as a series of steps or lessons that build one upon the other until the student is able to solve complex problems. Each step is briefly described as part of a pre-laboratory study assignment with follow-up application by students in analysis of spectral data obtained from their own products. Key advantages of gradualism over lecture instruction on spectroscopic analysis include liberation of lecture time for other essential objectives, incorporation of instruction into "wet" laboratories, utilization of an interactive learning process, and enhancement of student independence in the learning process. Online material for this article provides details of the curricular model for gradualism in the introductory organic chemistry laboratory and assessment data.
Supplement
Supplementary material provided is in the form of a Word 97 for Windows document containing a representative spectroscopic lesson, gradualistic curriculum model, assessment, and related tables. It has been compressed as zip (for Windows) and sit (for Macintosh) files. It can also be accessed as a pdf file using Acrobat Reader.
*  Contents
*  Download
supp1297.zip

supp1297.sit

supp1297.pdf

More Information
*  Citation
Alexander, Christopher W.; Asleson, Gary L.; Beam, Charles F.; Doig, Marion T.; Heldrich, Frederick J.; Studer-Martinez, Shannon. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1297.
*  Keywords
Organic Chemistry; Laboratory Instruction; IR Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; NMR Spectrometry; UV-Vis Spectroscopy; Teaching/Learning Theory/Practice
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
July 30, 1999
November 22, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > September  > Page 1297


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