In this paper, we explore how the typical second year undergraduate topic of matrix diagonalisation can be applied to solve a geometric problem which arises frequently in Vector Calculus: to find the curve of intersection of a plane and a surface. We use GeoGebra, which offers a cost-free and dynamic interface, to explore a specific variant of…

A cornerstone activity in undergraduate organic laboratories revolves around students running instrumental analysis on their products and interpreting their spectra. They are left to link the theory they have learned in lecture to practical spectral interpretation. Students often memorize benchmark interpretations of peaks, such as the broad…

The understanding of the basic principles of chromatography is of high importance for chemistry, pharmacy, and biology students. In this paper, we present a free web application which can be used as a teaching tool to introduce chromatography to undergraduate students, using one of the simplest chromatography models: the plate theory.

CRISPR-Cas9 is revolutionizing how we conduct scientific research, treat disease, and develop new crops. The widespread impact of this genome-editing technology makes it critical for undergraduate students to understand and engage with this new tool. In this article, we describe a multi-week lab module that teaches undergraduates how to design…

Almost all finite groups encountered by undergraduates can be represented as multiplicative groups of concise block-diagonal binary matrices. Such representations provide simple examples for beginning a group theory course. More importantly, these representations provide concrete models for "abstract" concepts. We describe Maple lab…

The ability to collaborate online is an essential skill that allows learners to bring together diverse perspectives to deepen understanding regardless of physical location. As online learning and hybrid workplaces have become more prevalent since the COVID-19 global pandemic, the critical nature of this skill has become particularly relevant for…

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the pivotal role of digital learning and online lecture videos, leading a shift toward blended and flipped classrooms in the post-pandemic era. This shift calls for development and (or) refreshment of novel online educational resources, such as Voice-Over PowerPoint (VOPPT) presentations, specifically designed for…

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and computational chemistry are used in concert to evaluate the thermal decomposition of calcium acetate monohydrate, Ca(C[subscript 2]H[subscript 3]O[subscript 2])[subscript 2]·H[subscript 2]O, and to engage students in high-level thinking as they synthesize results…

Computational and atmospheric chemistry are two important branches of contemporary chemistry. With the present topical nature of climate change and global warming, it is more crucial than ever that students are aware of and exposed to atmospheric chemistry, with an emphasis on how modeling may aid in understanding how atmospherically relevant…

General safety and chemical training of undergraduate students is typically held at the first-year level. In this technology report, we propose a flexible strategy to improve students' general knowledge of safety for a second-year inorganic chemistry laboratory. The strategy is composed of an online interactive revision approach through the…

The purpose of this article is to explore the potential for fostering transformative learning in an online environment. It provides an overview of transformative learning theory, including the variety of perspectives on the theory that have evolved as the theory matured. Strategies and practices for fostering transformative learning are described,…

An active-learning concurrent preparatory general chemistry course was adopted to replace a prerequisite course that lacked effectiveness in improving student outcomes. Our previous study showed that the concurrent course increased final exam performance and retention in a cohort of students. This paper studies the course modality impact of the…

A set of visualizations developed for the purpose of explaining solid state lattice structures is presented in this paper. The visualizations provide students with the option to view stacking patterns, extended structures, and individual unit cells for simple, body-centered and face-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed structures.…

A bachelor's degree program in chemistry typically starts with basic concepts in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Those principles are very important because they pave the ground for future advanced studies and, therefore, one needs to present them in a clear but rigorous way. One example is provided by the mathematical notion of an iterative…

The purpose of this paper is to present a specific case of CALL task design adopting the patterns-based learning design approach. The approach provides a common framework/vocabulary for educational designers, particularly teachers, to systematically capture, articulate, make explicit, share and reuse expert knowledge of teaching and good design.…