TEACHING PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MINI-LECTURES AND WORKSHEETS

A large number of pedagogical methods have found their way into college chemistry classrooms. They range from the traditional lecture to team-based learning. As a veteran of over twenty years in the classroom, I have tried these and just about everything in between. A combination of mini-lectures and group problem solving has become my method of choice. The inclusion of collaborative problem-solving using worksheets has proven to be both very effective and well received by my students. Very few, if any, example problems are solved before students are asked to collaboratively work on a worksheet problem. The students are encouraged to use their existing knowledge along with newly presented material to solve the problem. After a reasonable time, answers are compared, errors are discussed and the proper way to solve the problem is demonstrated if necessary. In addition to providing immediate feedback, this technique forces students to utilize their own knowledge base and gain confidence in their problem-solving capabilities. I will discuss the preparation, use and effectiveness of worksheets and how they can be woven into any classroom to produce enhanced learning and retention of material.