Date of Award
Spring 6-10-2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are growing in popularity in the chemistry community to replace traditional laboratory courses. This approach creates a research experience for a larger number of students than traditional research mentorship experiences offered at universities. CUREs can help students take ownership of projects, learn to design and troubleshoot experimental setups, problem-solve experiments that don’t have a “known answer”, and gain confidence in the laboratory. To assess the effectiveness of a general chemistry laboratory-based CURE course with DePaul students, the Experimental Design Ability Test (EDAT) and the Meaningful Learning in the Laboratory Instrument (MLLI) survey were given to the traditional General Chemistry Laboratory students and to the CURE laboratory students during the same quarter. The EDAT evaluates students’ ability to develop a hypothetical investigative design to test a claim. The MLII measures students’ expectations and thoughts about the laboratory before and after the experiments take place and whether they are integrating these thoughts with what they are doing hands-on in the laboratory course. These surveys were given at the start of the quarter and at the end of the quarter. Results of this study showed that students in the CURE course had higher experimental learning in the affective and cognitive domains compared to the non-CURE students.
Recommended Citation
Potts, Alissa, "Implementation and Assessment of a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) in General Chemistry" (2023). College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations. 466.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd/466
SLP Collection
no