Transcript Using Context and Problem Based Learning etc.

Extending the use of
Spectroscopy in a Suitcase
Dr Gan Shermer
and Ms Emily MacCready
Department of Chemistry
Background
Part of RSC Chemistry for our Future project
• £4.9 million pilot, funded by HEFCE from
•
September 2006 to July 2009
“The project aimed to help ensure that there is a
sustainable chemical science base within
higher education which will attract able students
from all backgrounds and provide chemical science
courses appropriate for students and employers in
the 21st Century.”
Background
SIAS initially in 4 regions:
• North East (Durham), East Midlands (Leicester),
South East (Surrey), London (UCL)
One of the successful projects from the pilot
phase now carried forward to National HE
STEM
• £21 million from HEFCE/HEFCW over 3 years
focusing on:
1. Demand-raising and Widening Participation
2. Higher-level skills & employer engagement.
Aims of SIAS
“Spectroscopy in a Suitcase aims to provide hands-on
experiences of spectroscopy for students and teachers,
and to contextualise the use and relevance of
spectroscopy in the real world, for example in forensics
and product quality control.”
Evaluation of “Spectroscopy in a Suitcase”: Final
Report, National Foundation for Educational Research,
June 2009
http://www.rsc.org/images/SIASfinalreport_tcm18159342.pdf
What is it?
• UV-Vis and FTIR
• Activities delivered in schools by ambassadors
• Loaned to trained teachers
• Resource pack of example
activities
• Spectra-school website
• Modern Instrumental
Techniques for Schools DVD
An example session
What works well and room for
improvement?
•
•
•
•
Directly relevant to the
curriculum
Breaks down some of
the barriers of engaging
with outreach (for WP)
See what scientists do
Limited range of
examples
Our project
• Develop new resources
• Establish a Teacher Advisory Board
• Train Chemistry ambassadors
Progress so far
• Contacts with schools
used to set up TAB
• Feedback from teachers
and students on some
themes which may appeal
• Recruitment and training
of over 20 Chemistry
ambassadors
Resources
• Drugs in sport (IR and UV Vis)
• Caffeine determination (UV Vis)
• Reaction monitoring (IR)
Feedback
Teachers: “The level of interest and engagement was
great to see, especially since it covered some of the
essential elements of the forthcoming January exam!”
Ambassadors: “The new context was much easier to run
and the students seemed to think it was more
interesting”
Students: “It was more
interesting because the theory
was put into context”
Future plans
• Trial and evaluation of revised resources
• Trial and evaluation by other institutions using
SIAS
• Publication of resources
• Dissemination event