Community Awareness and Service Learning in Analytical Chemistry Laboratories
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Andrew Miller [1] ; Alan Gift [1]
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[1] University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
City of Omaha, Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 96, Nº 7, 2019, págs. 1395-1400
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
A service-learning project was completed in both a senior and sophomore-level analytical chemistry course. Both projects took place at a local wetland managed by a nonprofit volunteer group. The two classes performed an in-depth water quality analysis and soil/sediment extractions examining the spatial variation of nutrients. The senior-level class had a deep connection with the nonprofit group. The students reported their results to the nonprofit in a poster presentation, an entry in the newsletter for the nonprofit, and in a final written report. They were also required to give a more technical poster presentation at a chemistry department seminar. For the sophomore-level class, the only connection with the nonprofit group was through a field sampling event. The impact of working at the site was evaluated by a paired pre/post-survey and through standard course evaluations. For the students who completed the pre/post-survey, there was a statistically significant increase in the students’ knowledge of the community. Students also report an appreciation for “real-world” application of chemistry content.
