Learning to Read Spectra: Teaching Decomposition with Excel in a Scientific Writing Course

Abstract

Literacy requires reading comprehension, and fostering reading skills is an essential prerequisite to and a synergistic enabler of the development of writing skills. Reading comprehension in the chemical sciences not only consists of the understanding of text but also includes the reading and processing of data tables, schemes, and graphs. Thus, education in scientific writing in chemistry cannot focus on writing alone, but such efforts must aim both at the development of higher level skills in reading and writing; moreover, the reading instruction ought to occur concurrently with or precede the writing exercise. In this context, a computer laboratory experiment is described which develops students' ability to read spectra. The computer laboratory experiment cultivates students' Excel skills with the specific objective of teaching them how individual transitions overlap in spectra. Qualitative decomposition and an automated Solver extension method are discussed. Qualitative decomposition is best suited to develop students' understanding of overlapping transitions and spectra and to advance their conceptual knowledge. Learning to use Solver is a valuable additional skill, but the automated process is no substitute for the learning experience provided by the qualitative decomposition.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Analytical Chemistry; Applications of Chemistry; Collaborative/Cooperative Learning; Communication/Writing; Computer-Based Learning; Constructivism; Curriculum; Laboratory Computing/Interfacing; Laboratory Instruction; Problem Solving/Decision Making; Spectroscopy; Upper-Division Undergraduate

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0021-9584

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Feb 2018

Link to Full Text

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