Improving Chemistry Education by Offering Salient Technology Training to Preservice Teachers. A Graduate-Level Course on Using Software To Teach Chemistry

Abstract

This paper describes an upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level course on computers in chemical education that was developed and offered for the first time in Fall 2007. The course provides future chemistry teachers with exposure to current software tools that can improve productivity in teaching, curriculum development, and education research. Topics include features of Microsoft Office 2007, database programming using the structured query language, creating structured documents in extended markup language, drawing chemical structures and equipment using ChemSketch and Adobe Illustrator, using Virtual Lab activities in teaching, using data collection software such as Vernier LoggerPro, and creating animated tutorials in Adobe Captivate. Student performance is assessed using three different formats. Weekly assignments are completed based on the tools studied in class and uploaded electronically into the Blackboard course management system. At the end of the semester, each student creates a project based on one or more tools used in the course. In addition, graduate students present a paper incorporating recent literature citations on the use of computers in chemical education. Student response to this course has been very positive, and the course is offered regularly.