Gary White

gwhite@mtsu.edu

Earl Pearson

Chemistry

Master Classroom

Wiser-Patten Science 110

New Technology

N/A

The traditional approach to the teaching of general chemistry has been to separate the course into lecture and laboratory components. An alternative strategy would be to integrate the lecture and laboratory so that classroom discussion would encourage immediate experimentation and experiments conducted would promote classroom discussion. This can best be accomplished in a space which serves as both laboratory and classroom. We seek to convert Wiser-Patten Science Hall 110, the current space for CHEM 1110 and 1120 laboratory courses, into a combination laboratory/master classroom. About 600 students are enrolled every semester in these courses. The renovated space would consist of a central discussion area flanked by three rows of laboratory benches on either side. LCD projectors and screens would be located on either side and in the middle of the room. Laboratory benches would be modified so that they do not block the screens. The master classroom computer technology would permit the incorporation of recent developments in chemical education into the course content such as the use of animations and molecular modeling. The master classroom configuration could also provide space so one instructor can give a laboratory briefing to two sections of students simultaneously.