POGIL-IC: an ideal context

for developing problem solving

skills

John Goodwin and Darlene Slusher

Coastal Carolina University
David Hanson – Stony Brook University
Tom Gilbert – Northeastern University
 POGIL-in-Context
 Preparation, use, and testing of a new series of
advanced POGIL general chemistry activities that use
interdisciplinary contextual themes as a way to introduce
problems, and then to improve problem-solving skills.
 Solving Real Problems with Chemistry workbook
includes Cu-Ag-Au “help pages” for instructors to
distribute to guide students in problem solving
methodologies, and to engage students in meta-
cognitive reflection about the problem solving skills they
are developing.
 HELP = GUIDED PROBLEM SOLVING
 POGIL-IC Activities
at Coastal Carolina University
 Interspersed with POGIL (content focused) modules
used in lecture class (Hanson’s “Foundations of
Chemistry” in our case) – roughly one per chapter –
organized group activities
 As a recap/integration of chemical models with
problem-solving emphasis
 Pose questions that require identification and
application of chemical models – problem solving
 “Take Home Quiz Problems” and “Practice Quiz
Problems”
 POGIL-IC Activities
at Coastal Carolina University
 Currently experimenting with an adaptation
of Tom Gilbert’s COAST(AL) problem-
solving method
 Collect
 Organize
 Analyze
 Solve
 Test
 Assess
 Learn
 Current design template
 Title and Introduction
 Prerequisite Knowledge
 Learning Outcomes
 The Problem
 Solve the Problem and Document Your Solution
 Does Your Answer Make Sense?
 Building Your Problem Solving Skills
 Got It!
 Help Sections
 Cu Help
 Ag Help
 Au Help
Solving Real Problems with
Chemistry (Pacific Crest)

• Pre-market edition is currently being

tested by ~1300 students (FA08-SP09)
• Contains 18 Activities corresponding to
two semesters of general chemistry
• Instructors receive Cu-Ag-Au help-page
files and solutions to problems and “Got It!”
questions through restricted website
• Preview at http://www.pcrest2.com/srpc
• Brochures and samples here today
• First edition available Fall 2009
A sample activity
A sample activity
A sample activity
help page
A sample activity
 New Directions with Assessment of
Student Problem-Solving
 Stony-Brook team has created assessment
rubrics for group work observation (both students
and facilitators)
 Stony-Brook team has created a new course
based on Solving Real Problems with
Chemistry
 CHE 125 - Learning Strategies Essential for Success
in Chemistry Focuses on developing techniques,
strategies, and advanced learning skills that are essential
for success in college-level chemistry. Real world
contexts, issues, and problems are explored from a
chemistry perspective.
 Project personnel
 PI’s
 John Goodwin, Darlene Slusher, Coastal Carolina University
 Dave Hanson, Stony Brook University
 Tom Gilbert, Northeastern University
 Core collaborators
 Linda Hobart, Finger Lakes CC
 Candice Foley, Suffolk Co. CC
 Vicky Minderhout, Seattle University
 Evaluators
 Austin Hitt, Coastal Carolina University
 Kimberly Lawless, University of Illinois, Chicago
 Acknowledgements
 Coastal Carolina University: Scholarship of
Teaching and Learning Program
 NSF DUE CCLI 0633191, 0632957, and
0633231
 Pacific Crest – Dan Apple and Denna
Hintze-Yates