Guided Inquiry Experiments for General Chemistry: Practical Problems and Applications

“There are few inquiry-based lab manuals available, and this one is perhaps the best I’ve seen. The use of scenarios to set each experiment in a context is engaging.  The format appeals to students and helps them develop knowledge and skills that many instructors claim are essential, but few students actually learn and few instructors actually teach in traditional lab courses.  The emphasis on science writing skills is a plus.  Another plus is the emphasis on teamwork in the experiments, and collaborative work to gather a large set of data that the students then analyze.”  Kristine Kirk, College of Notre Dame of Maryland.

 

“I like the added real-world framework.  The Extensions/Application sections are excellent, and would I think have a very positive impact on learning.”

Roderick M. Macrae, Marian College

 

“This is a great way to teach lab to general chemistry students.  It emphasizes a more realistic way in which a scientific problem is approached, and requires students to think, interpret and draw conclusions from data they obtained.”

Kathie Snyder, Winthrop University

 

“I believe that students would be the real winners in a laboratory approach like this. They get to see the relationships and develop an understanding of the content rather than just memorize information.  The approach is truly making the lab an extension of the lecture.  They are not just validation labs which in my opinion are the least effective means of teaching.” 

Donnie Byers, Johnson County Community College

 

“This type of inquiry-based chemical laboratory experimentation will improve student’s thinking and problem solving skills.  It will also give them a sense of accomplishment when they complete a lab and its report especially is they must pretend that they are part of a company team and must make an oral/written report with supported recommendations to the group.”

Patrick Barber, Longwood University

 

“This project is well thought-out, well-organized, and high quality.  It is clear that the authors took the time to carefully design and test these labs.  The risk you run with this material is that users who are not familiar with guided-inquiry instruction might be tempted to “improve” the labs by making ill-considered changes and additions.  With a properly documented lab manual, the authors can take advantage of a valuable opportunity to educate their peers and help promote increased acceptance of the method.”

Edward Baum, Grand Valley State University