A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories

Numerous American national committees have recommended the replacement of traditional labs with a more engaging curriculum that inspires inquiry and enhances scientific skills (examples include the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)’s Engage to Excel program and Americ...

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Main Authors: David M. Rubush, Kari L. Stone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/4/117
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author David M. Rubush
Kari L. Stone
author_facet David M. Rubush
Kari L. Stone
author_sort David M. Rubush
collection DOAJ
description Numerous American national committees have recommended the replacement of traditional labs with a more engaging curriculum that inspires inquiry and enhances scientific skills (examples include the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)’s Engage to Excel program and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Vision and Change, among others), due to a large body of evidence that shows significant enhancements in student learning and affective outcomes. The implementation of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) is a creative way to scale up the deployment of authentic research experiences to students. Another highly regarded high-impact practice in postsecondary education is the addition of learning communities. The integration of a three-course learning community and authentic research experiences to laboratory courses adds both a community of scholarship and a development of scientific communication and process skills. This study describes a course that blends these two high-impact practices in higher education in order to promote greater post-course gains in essential elements of a CURE curriculum. This collaborative course shows large post-course gains in essential elements, such as scientific communication and working collaboratively.
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spelling doaj.art-e3052e0d6b544160b13c70e7f03cafde2023-11-19T22:20:28ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022020-04-0110411710.3390/educsci10040117A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry LaboratoriesDavid M. Rubush0Kari L. Stone1Department of Chemistry, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL, 60532, USADepartment of Chemistry, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL, 60446, USANumerous American national committees have recommended the replacement of traditional labs with a more engaging curriculum that inspires inquiry and enhances scientific skills (examples include the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)’s Engage to Excel program and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Vision and Change, among others), due to a large body of evidence that shows significant enhancements in student learning and affective outcomes. The implementation of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) is a creative way to scale up the deployment of authentic research experiences to students. Another highly regarded high-impact practice in postsecondary education is the addition of learning communities. The integration of a three-course learning community and authentic research experiences to laboratory courses adds both a community of scholarship and a development of scientific communication and process skills. This study describes a course that blends these two high-impact practices in higher education in order to promote greater post-course gains in essential elements of a CURE curriculum. This collaborative course shows large post-course gains in essential elements, such as scientific communication and working collaboratively.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/4/117CURElearning communitycourse-based research experiencesretentionfoundational chemistry laboratoriesSTEM laboratory
spellingShingle David M. Rubush
Kari L. Stone
A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
Education Sciences
CURE
learning community
course-based research experiences
retention
foundational chemistry laboratories
STEM laboratory
title A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
title_full A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
title_fullStr A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
title_full_unstemmed A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
title_short A Learning Community Involving Collaborative Course-Based Research Experiences for Foundational Chemistry Laboratories
title_sort learning community involving collaborative course based research experiences for foundational chemistry laboratories
topic CURE
learning community
course-based research experiences
retention
foundational chemistry laboratories
STEM laboratory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/10/4/117
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