Date of Award

4-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Marcy H. Towns

Committee Chair

Marcy H. Towns

Committee Member 1

George M. Bodner

Committee Member 2

David Eichinger

Committee Member 3

Minjung Ryu

Abstract

Chemistry laboratory coursework has the potential to offer many benefits to students, yet few of these learning goals are realized in practice. Therefore, this study seeks to characterize undergraduate students’ learning goals for their chemistry laboratory coursework. Data were collected by recording video of students completing laboratory experiments and conducting interviews with the students about their experiences that were analyzed utilizing the frameworks of Human Constructivism and Self-Regulated Learning. A cross-sectional sampling of students allowed comparisons to be made among students with varying levels of chemistry experience and interest in chemistry. The student goals identified by this study were compared to previously described laboratory learning goals of the faculty who instruct these courses in an effort to identify potential avenues to improve laboratory learning.

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