| Abstrakt: |
The case study approach provides students with a better appreciation of how scientists solve problems and conduct themselves in the “real world”. When applied to the undergraduate chemistry laboratory, this approach also challenges critical thinking skills and creativity in ways “cook book” experiments very often do not. This approach provides students the opportunity to learn analytical principles in the context of relevant everyday problems, stimulate a sustaining interest, and develop higher cognitive skills and reasoning abilities. The laboratory-based case study described here combines the use of small collaborative groups and a modern instrumental technique, with application to a common consumer product. Students are required to conduct themselves as chemists would, when addressing the problem of product purity claims, and to make a determination based on their experimental results that will be used to direct future action taken by a formulation company. This case study even addresses potential legal exposure issues the company may encounter with the Food and Drug Administration. In that context, students come to realize that a faulty conclusion could potentially have undesirable ramifications. In addition, students are provided with the opportunity to gain useful hands-on experience on instrumentation commonly used in modern analytical laboratories. A “professional” report must also be written by students in journal style format including all relevant data, calculations, and statistical and error analysis. Assessment was made using mixed methods. Results indicate the laboratory was largely successful in meeting its objectives. |
