The “pHunger Games”: Manuscript Review to Assess Graduating Chemistry Majors

• David J. Gorin ^[1] ; Elizabeth R. Jamieson ^[1] ; K. T. Queeney ^[1] ; Kevin M. Shea ^[1]
  1. [1] Smith College

     Smith College

     City of Northampton, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 93, Nº 12, 2016, págs. 2058-2062
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Numerous options exist to assess student performance using standardized, multiple-choice exams at the course and department levels. This paper describes the development and implementation of an alternative department-level assessment for graduating chemistry majors. The assessment detailed here evaluates students’ ability to transfer chemical knowledge from their classes to a real life application, namely the review of a scientific paper. Working in groups of three with full access to reference materials, students review a paper intentionally doctored by the faculty to contain a variety of errors. Student groups identify and correct mistakes in a paper with content spanning numerous chemistry subdisciplines. To motivate student effort, a prize is awarded to the group submitting the most thorough review. The data collected from the “pHunger Games” will inform curricular reform and innovation throughout the department.