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Misconceptions in the Chemistry Lab

The Harris Workshop held on May 24-25, 2012, delved into common misconceptions in chemistry laboratories. Participants explored issues such as the misconception of assumed knowledge, unrealistic yield expectations, and the failure to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications. Emphasizing the importance of record-keeping and understanding experiments beyond "cookbook" methods, the workshop encouraged an interdisciplinary approach. Ideas on enhancing student learning through peer-teaching and real-world applications were discussed, aiming to bridge the gap between classroom theory and laboratory practice.

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Misconceptions in the Chemistry Lab

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  1. Misconceptions in the Chemistry Lab Harris Workshop May 24th-25th 2012

  2. 1. Assumed knowledge • Prerequisite course skills are thought of as mutually exclusive • Overlap between related disciplines is not recognized (eg. Inorganic labs vs organic labs) • The practical or literal meaning of equations are lost • The importance of record keeping

  3. 2. Experiments • Close to100 % yield is always expected and students doubt their abilities if it is less • Hangs ups on failures and the value of the end product • The literature is The Truth • The lab manual is a cookbook • All chemistry has a cookbook

  4. 3. Applications • Transfer of concepts to problems and asking “why?” • Chemistry in the real world is not recognized • A simple answer is thought as wrong or not enough • Disconnects between lecture concepts done in the lab

  5. Battling lab misconceptions • Integrated/Interdisciplinary labs • UBC: 3rd year lab course (no lectures) • 1 year duration, 2 afternoons/week, 9 labs covering 4 chemistry disciplines • 2nd semester is optional for non-Chem majors • Students teach each other • Guided by a TA for safety concerns • Perspective/approach from student POV

  6. Battling lab misconceptions • Inform students on • Experiments do not always work or give 100 % yield • Proper note-taking • Real-world applications or analogies • Discernment of the Literature results and non-peer reviewed sources of information

  7. Group Members • Hayley (UofA) • Japhet (Grant MacEwan) • Jeremy (UofA) • Patrick (Concordia) • Sonja (UofA) • Vishanka (UBC)

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