Spring 1999 CONFCHEM PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE IN THE INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY COURSE

An On-Line Session - March 29 to April 10, 1999

General Info

Schedule and Material for Discussion

Discussion Archives

General Information

While both process and content need to be considered in recommending change for the introductory course, content is often stressed to the detriment of process. Changing just one or the other will not result in the best learning experience for students. Only if content and process are seen to be mutually inclusive will the full potential for educating our citizens be realized. This conference, however, will be limited to a discussion of content. If we can begin to examine the current content and how and why certain topics came to be considered as essential for the course, we may be able to approach a common curriculum so that the process of how to best implement it may then be developed.

Stephen J. Hawkes of Oregon State University compiled suggestions for the content of general chemistry. He served as leader of the Zero Base Course discussion group for the Task Force on the General Chemistry Curriculum. The goal of the zero base approach is a detailed curriculum in which topics are developed so that students understand the phenomena considered necessary for the course. This analysis requires that the principles that should be in the course be identified, that those not necessary be removed, and perhaps additional principles be added. This on-line conference will list over 100 proposals compiled from many viewpoints (not necessarily those of the Task Force). Proposals are worded as debatable propostions to engender serious discussion. After discussion, amendment, deletion, extension, and some consensus, the proposals will be distributed to the chemistry community in various forms. Future discussions are also planned.

Schedule and Material for Discussion

We will discuss the various compendium proposals in order, covering about 20-30 topics over each two day session. Questions and comments should be sent to the CONFCHEM Listserv. If needed, both Stephen Hawkes and James Spencer will respond but in most situations participants will carry the discussion. Some of the compendium topics as well as other suggestions for change are addressed in the papers appearing under the heading "Task Force Publications". Particularily those papers listed under Stephen Hawkes and those having Ron Gillespie as co-author will be helpful reading for the topics discussions. The paper of interest is referenced under the compendium topic. These are not the only pertinent works and when extant other appropriate papers to be read are also listed as a reference under the compendium topic. The general article "New Directions for General Chemistry" should be read as background information. Comments on this paper will be allowed throughout the discussions but are encouraged for the beginning session. Some general discussion will take place at the beginning and ending sessions. The schedule for discussions is as follows:

Compendium of proposals

New Directions for General Chemistry

Publications

Discussion Archives

Complete archive, March 25 - April 13, 1999 (587 KB text file)

Smaller archive files:

Archive part 1, March 25 - April 1, 1999 (165 KB text file)
Archive part 2, April 2 - April 8, 1999 (150 KB text file)
Archive part 3, April 9 - April 11, 1999 (151 KB text file)
Archive part 4, April 12 - April 13, 1999 (121 KB text file)

Note: Since the discussion threads overlap during the conference, the smaller archive files are divided simply by date rather than topic.

BRIEF INSTRUCTIONS

This on-line conference ended April 10, 1999.