Abstract:

The main objetive of this study is to improve the training of Analytical Chemistry students, not only by teaching the main concepts that are marked in the syllabus of the subject, but also obtaining the competences that allow them to work safely , learn how to use different devices and instruments in a reliable way or even handle properly the reagents so that it is not a risk to their health.

To this end, normally seminars could be planned to show them precautions that must be taken with the usual material, reagent manipulation or how the behaviour must be in the laboratory when different operations are being carried but, on the other hand, seminars have two main drawbacks, students should assimilate a large amount of information in short period of time, remember it and put it into practice at the laboratory. In this study we propose the use of QR codes to allow that students could get access to the information in real time in the laboratory, anytime that is needed.

QR codes has been used previously by us [1] in order to provide students with a laboratory notebook that contains information related to reagents, bibliography and preventive measures that must be considered when working in the laboratory. On this occasion, QR codes have been located on instruments, devices, facilities or work stations of the laboratory, getting in this way what we have called the “connected laboratory”. Information provided by the code will be related on its location, and will cover different topics as health and safety (use of personal protective equipment when necessary, material included in a first aid kit, safety sheet of the reagents), laboratory operations, instruments and devices (such as furring, pipetting, standardized protocol for the use of instruments and devices) and data processing (t-student table, calculation of analytical parameters or procedure to obtain calibration functions). Therefore, the QR codes provide valuable information in a few seconds to students in a really simple way, showing it on the screen of their smartphones, being able to check any information needed as many times as necessary.

Acknowledgements:
This work was funded by Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Projects CTQ2016-78754-C2-1-R. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 706303 (Multisens).

References:
[1] M.M. Erenas, J. Ballesta-Claver, I. de Orbe-Payá, F. Quintanal-Pérez, L.F. Capitán-Vallvey, QR CODES IN THE ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LAB, Proc. ICERI2015. (2015) 1572–1575.

Keywords:

QR codes, smartphone, connected laboratory, mobile.