Assessment Report

CHEM 1220 – FALL 2006 

Instructor: Doug Harris 

Course Description: Continuation of CHEM 1210.  

Enrollment: 94 

Assessment method: Use student centered learning strategies in the chemistry classroom. 

Outcomes Data: Questions 1 and 2 of the reverse side of the Utah State University Course Evaluation form (positive course aspects and changes to improve course). Recurring responses will be noted in the summary section below.  

Summary: Chemistry 1220 is composed of students majoring in a science discipline with a majority interested in the life sciences. 99% of the class indicated that they would be later enrolling in the 2000 level organic chemistry courses. In order to prepare these students for future organic and biochemistry courses, the instructor shared personal biochemistry research experiences gained as an undergraduate and graduate student making sure that these experiences related closely to the necessary general chemistry topics. Effort was also expended in fostering a classroom atmosphere in which students would feel comfortable in asking questions. Each lecture began with an instructor request for student questions and clarification of previous lecture topics. 

Students expressed an appreciation for the biochemical experiences/demonstrations and encouraged further use of additional examples and demonstrations. Students also enjoyed having the opportunity of asking questions at the beginning of each lecture. Some students suggested that instead of discussing how to solve a particular problem, the instructor should take the time to completely work out these problems using the document camera so that all could follow along. Students further suggested that a methodical step-by-step procedure for solving a problem would help the students truly understand the principles being discussed.