First Year Chemistry Laboratory Courses for Distance Learners: Development and Transfer Credit Acceptance

dc.creator	Sharon E. Brewer,
dc.creator	Bruno Cinel,
dc.creator	Michelle Harrison,
dc.creator	Christina L. Mohr
dc.date	2013-07-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:31:53Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:31:53Z
dc.identifier	1492-3831
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/aca6dfe91c7c4d7cad63812e303206e3
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/22472
dc.description	In delivering chemistry courses by distance, a key challenge is to offer the learner an authentic and meaningful laboratory experience that still provides the rigour required to continue on in science. To satisfy this need, two distance general chemistry laboratory courses appropriate for Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) students, including chemistry majors, have been recently developed at Thompson Rivers University. A constructive alignment process was employed which clearly mapped learning outcomes and activities to appropriate assessment tools. These blended laboratory courses feature custom, home experimental kits and combine elements of online and hands-on learning. The courses were designed for flexible continuous enrollment and provide online resources including tutor support, instructional videos, lab report submission, and student evaluation. The assessment of students includes laboratory reports, safety quizzes, reflective journaling, digital photo documentation, and invigilated written and online practical exams. Emphasizing the quality and rigour in these distance laboratory learning experiences allowed both courses to be accepted for B.Sc. transfer credit by other institutions, an important criterion for students. This paper will outline the design and development process of these new blended laboratory courses, their course structures and assessments, and initial student results.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Athabasca University Press
dc.relation	http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1446/2526
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1492-3831
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 14, Iss 3 (2013)
dc.subject	First year
dc.subject	general chemistry
dc.subject	laboratory
dc.subject	distance education
dc.subject	blended
dc.subject	hands-on
dc.subject	home experimental kits
dc.subject	online
dc.subject	learning outcomes
dc.subject	instructional design
dc.subject	transfer credit
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	First Year Chemistry Laboratory Courses for Distance Learners: Development and Transfer Credit Acceptance
dc.type	article