INTENSIVE CHEMISTRY SEMINARS AND STUDENTS

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INTENSIVE CHEMISTRY SEMINARS AND STUDENTS
ACHIEVEMENT   Intensive Chemistry Seminars,
(ICS), is a supplemental, enrichment and
enhancement course for chemistry and biochemistry
majors. Our goals are to provide opportunities
for deeper exploration of chemistry, integrate
students into the departmental community more
quickly, and develop study skills that will be
useful in many contexts. Special features of
this course include cooperative learning,
individual attention, and special lectures and
lab tours. The results of our pilot study showed
that ICS was very effective in increasing
students' achievement in chemistry. The study
also showed that cooperative work is a
feature-key in that course especially when
implemented from a Zone of Proximal Development
perspective. Currently we are investigating the
depth effect of ICS on students' concept
understanding, problem solving, self-esteem,
self-efficacy and attitude toward chemistry. Our
ultimate goal is to standardize ICS and make it
an official supplement to general chemistry I and
II for chemistry and biochemistry majors.