BioChemWorkshop
Workshop Descriptions:
Determination of Empirical Formula
We will go over a simple experiment where students can collect real data to determine mass percent for an unknown substance. We will also exhibit a potential demonstration that you can use in teaching empirical formulas.
- Limiting Reactant and Percent Yield
We will demonstrate an experiment that will allow students to do a brief chemical reaction and determine the percent yield of an experiment. We will also exhibit a qualitative limiting reactant activity that you can do with students to introduce the concept chemically.
The Calorimetry of Snack Foods
We will demonstrate an experiment that will allow students to explore the concepts of calorimetry and heat transfer through the combustion of snack foods. Students will also get to explore secondary concepts of error and the first law of thermodynamics.
Freezing Point Depression using “Green” Reagents
We will demonstrate an experiment that will allow students to explore the concepts of freezing point and freezing point depression. Other concepts covered in this lab are critical thinking, problem solving, green chemistry, molality and molecular weight concepts. All reagents used are common chemicals that can be found at home.
Density of Pennies
We will demonstrate an experiment that will illustrate the calculation of density for a solid object. Also included is the concept of intensive properties being used to identify the composition of a substance by comparing densities of different year pennies – up through 1982 the penny was 95% copper and in 1982 and after the penny was 97.5% zinc.
Reaction of Pennies
We will demonstrate an experiment that build on the density experiment done earlier. Different year pennies will be reacted with hydrochloric acid. Different dates of pennies will then react differently with the acid illustrating different reactivities with the major components of the pennies (zinc in pennies will react but not the copper).
Dropper Titration with EDTA
We will demonstrate an experiment that will allow students to become familiar with the titration technique without using intimidating expensive glassware. We will also demonstrate how students will calibrate a measuring device (in this case a plastic dropper). This experiment allows students to will determine water hardness, and it can be easily adapted for them to determine the concentration of an acid or base.
Using Assessment Data to Drive Teaching Practice
One of the most common issues expressed with internal assessment is that the assessment is often difficult to apply to classroom practice and teaching. In this session, participants are invited to bring some of their assignments, rubrics, and assessments to discuss how to integrate them more fully into practice and how to design assessments that can actually be used to make your classroom practices better and more successful.
Flipping the Classroom – Sharing Ideas, Activities, Successes, and Pitfalls
We will discuss the practice of classroom flipping. What is a flipped classroom? What kinds of resources are useful? Where are mistakes made? Share your experiences and ask questions from faculty who have been using some version of flipping for the past four years.
Preparation of Acetaminophen and Esters
We will prepare the analgesic acetaminophen and some very good smelling esters. Students will learn to perform vacuum filtration and recrystallization. These experiments will introduce students to the formation of organic compounds such as amides and esters, and the Fisher Esterification reaction can be further explored.
Wolbachia project
We will learn about an integrative lab series designed to bring real-world scientific research into your classroom through inquiry, discovery, and biotechnology. The goal is to engage students in nature and real-world research, and to contribute new scientific data on the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis. Labs include: insect identification, DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and bioinformatics.
Active Learning in A&P
We will explore ways to make your A&P course more interactive and interesting. When students are involved, they learn better and are more interested.
The future of evidence based teaching.
See what the data says about active learning and how small changes can close the gap between teaching and student learning.
Daphnia Doing Drugs
Also known as water fleas, Daphnia provide an opportunity to view an organisms heat rate and how it responds when exposed to different chemicals such as nicotine, epinephrine, caffeine, and alcohol. Come explore how easy it is to study these unique organisms with just a microscope.
Pandemic and Contagion
We will explore how the game Pandemic (board game or app) and the movie Contagion can be used to supplement lessons on pathogens and the immune system. The movie will not be shown during the session but key components discussed as they relate to the board game.
Genetics and Beans
Using red and white beans, students learn about the process of co-evolution and discover why genetic mutations such as those that cause lactose intolerance and sickle cell anemia have stayed in the gene pool. Participants will complete the lab as students as part of the session.
Urban Agriculture: Setting up a classroom tower garden
We will demonstrate how you can create an indoor tower garden to grow a variety of produce in your own classroom!
Fish sampling using electrofishing
Jump into some rubber chest waders and learn how to sample fish with electrofishing. Field identification of fish species and water quality sampling will also be included. All equipment is provided.
Using smartphones to identify bats (optional evening workshop)
We will demonstrate how to use an educator-priced sensor that attaches to smart phones and allows you to identify bats by their echolocation signature.
A galaxy far, far away (optional evening workshop)
We will go out with VU’s Mobile Science Laboratory (MSL) and view the stars with our computerized telescope.