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Software Instruction to Support Digital Fluency in General Chemistry
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Arch Room
Fluency in software is often assumed before students enter a course, but when students are challenged to perform concrete tasks, they struggle to work independently. In general chemistry lab courses we prioritize learning Microsoft Excel for data analysis and visualization early in the first quarter. While many students report prior experience with Excel, they struggle to execute the tasks required in a science lab course. To better support all students, we have integrated an in-class "data analysis" lab that allows them to gain fluency in the software with the support of their peers and teaching assistants. This requires some class time is devoted to active learning of the software; it also requires adequate training of the TAs. In this presentation, we will detail how we prioritize what tasks are done in class and what is expected to be independent work. While our example is in the teaching of Microsoft Excel, we aim to discuss objectives more generally to help participants assess their own relationship to the software of their choice. Bring your laptop!


Speakers
avatar for Veronica Berns

Veronica Berns

Associate Professor of Instruction, Northwestern University
Veronica Berns (she/her) earned her BA in Chemistry at Northwestern University in 2009 before her PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2014.  Her doctoral thesis focused on the way atoms pack together in solids, specifically in compounds with multiple... Read More →
avatar for Katherine Gesmundo

Katherine Gesmundo

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Northwestern University
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Arch Room
  Interactive Presentation

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