For educational institutions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas, the provision of practical learning scenarios is, traditionally, a major concern. In the 21st century, the explosion of information and communication technology (ICTs), as well as the universalization of low-cost hardware, has allowed the proliferation…

The turn to 'evidence-based education' in the past three decades favours one type of evidence: experiment. Knowledge brokers ground recommendations for classroom practice on reports of experimental research. This paper distinguishes "field" and "laboratory" experiments, on the basis of control and precision of causal…

In this work, we have developed a versatile three-in-one single beam visible colorimeter for undergraduate laboratory courses. The battery and mains electricity supply (utility power), wired and wireless data logging, and 3D-printed components are three important highlights of the developed visible colorimeter. The system is based on a low-cost…

Despite the growing awareness of the importance of plant secondary metabolites in insect-plant interactions, undergraduate degree content in agronomy and biology generally does not provide a clear concept to students in relation to secondary metabolite induction of plant defences, implying that students do not obtain a good understanding of the…

Transcription is the critical first step in expressing a gene, during which an RNA polymerase (RNAP) synthesizes an RNA copy of one strand of the DNA that encodes a gene. Here we describe a laboratory experiment that uses a single assay to probe two important steps in transcription: (1) RNAP binding to DNA, and (2) the transcriptional activity of…

Scientific reasoning competencies enable students to engage in scientific inquiry through a wide range of methods, for example by asking questions, formulating hypotheses, and planning, carrying out, and evaluating experiments. Laboratories are particularly suitable to foster these competencies in higher education. In order to give lab educators…

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a rapid and powerful method for evaluating the pore structure of membranes. However, the application is limited due to the lack of appropriate training of engineers in electrochemistry and materials engineering. The introduction of laboratory practices can effectively improve the understanding of…

In the first decades of the twentieth century, amidst the emergence of experimental psychology, Latin American educators became pedagogical innovators and advocates of school reforms. They used the classroom as a laboratory to study children's intelligence and collect data that could potentially improve their education. This paper traces…

Perturbation of gene expression using RNA interference (RNAi) or CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) is a useful strategy to explore the function of essential genes. In the archaeon "Haloferax volcanii," the CRISPR-Cas system has been adapted as a CRISPRi tool to silence the expression of specific genes. We developed a laboratory class (LC) to…

ChatGPT is a brand new, free AI chatbot that has the potential to produce a seismic shift in chemistry education, especially in written lab reports. An example is explored in which ChatGPT is used to write the discussion portion of a lab report. Ways to detect the use of ChatGPT are also discussed.

The American Chemical Society advocates a shift from rule-based to risk-based safety education for chemistry graduates, emphasizing meaningful student engagement in the risk assessment process for laboratory work. To implement this paradigm shift, we introduced RAMP (Recognize Hazards, Assess Risk, Minimize Risk, and Prevent Emergencies)-based…

Multistep synthesis is a key capstone experience in organic laboratory instruction. Here, a four-step synthesis of avobenzone, an active component in sunscreens, has been developed that can be completed in two 4 h laboratory periods. This synthesis incorporates green principles and includes an aldol condensation, electrophilic addition of bromine…

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are becoming more prevalent throughout chemistry curricula as a mechanism to lower barriers to participation, improve retention, and decrease success gaps for historically minoritized populations. Given the evidence that long-duration and early entry experiences are more impactful, herein we…

This paper outlines a comprehensive teaching laboratory course program that centers on titration analysis, a timeless and essential technique in analytical chemistry spanning various disciplines, such as environmental science, medicine, and industry. In these fields, titration analysis is paramount for determining the concentrations of substances…

In this article, we describe a fully computational laboratory exercise that results in an increase of students' understanding of what quantum chemical geometry optimization calculations are doing to find minimum energy structures. This laboratory exercise was conducted several times over multiple years at a small private undergraduate institution,…