Undergraduate Chemistry Education: A Workshop Summary (2014)
Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task
An ad hoc committee will plan and conduct a public workshop in May 2013 in Washington, D.C. This 1-day workshop will explore the current state of undergraduate chemistry education, with specific consideration of drivers and metrics of change, barriers to implementation of changes, and examples of innovation in the classroom. Research and innovation in undergraduate chemistry education has been done for many years, and one goal of this workshop is to assist in the transfer of lessons learned from the education research community to faculty members whose expertise lies in the field of chemistry rather than in education. This workshop will include a combination of formal presentations and working groups in an effort to stimulate engaging discussion among participants.
The committee will develop the workshop agenda, select and invite speakers and other participants, and moderate the discussions. The focus of the workshop will be on three main goals:
• Identify and examine potential drivers for change,
• Frankly discuss barriers to curricular modifications, and
• Highlight recent results from large-scale innovations with special emphasis on those that are transferrable, widely applicable, and/or proven successful.
Following the workshop, an individually authored summary of the workshop will be prepared in accordance with institutional guidelines.
