This research group, under the direction of Dr. Melanie Cooper, focuses on improving the teaching and learning of chemistry at the undergraduate level. They use a variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques in order to examine the way that students learn chemistry and to inform the design of evidence-based curricular materials.
Several research projects are currently underway:
CLUE - Chemistry, Life, the Universe, and Everything is a transformed general chemistry curriculum, developed by an interdisciplinary team of a chemist and a molecular biologist, that aims to bring about evidence-based change in general chemistry.
3DL - Three-dimensional learning (3DL) in STEM education is a model described in the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education in which disciplinary core ideas (DCI's) cross-cutting concepts, and scientific practices are interwoven to facilitate students developing a coherent understanding of science. The 3DL for Undergraduate Science(#DL4US) project has adapted this framework for teaching and learning at the university level, with a particular emphasis on transforming introductory ('gateway') courses in biology, chemistry and physics.
beSocratic - is an online assessment system developed by our research group that recognizes and responds to a variety of input forms, including text, free form drawings and graphs. beSocratic provides students with targeted feedback and offers instructors and researchers tools for online analysis of student responses.