| Part I: The Effects of Laboratory Curriculum and Instruction on Undergraduate Students' Understanding of Chemistry. Shallow learning, that is, acquiring factual and procedural knowledge without a deeper understanding of the underlying ideas, is a typical result of science courses taught via the standard modes of lecture and follow-the-recipe laboratory experiments.;To address the problem of shallow learning in general chemistry, my colleagues and I developed, implemented, and assessed a new laboratory program. The design of the curriculum and instruction for the MORE laboratory course was based on research in cognitive science and education. We also developed a new instructional tool, the Model-Observe-Reflect-Explain (MORE) Thinking Frame, to support our curricular and instructional goals.;The MORE laboratory curriculum and instruction was tested in two laboratory sections selected at random from the general chemistry course, and was assessed in comparison with two matched Control sections participating in the standard laboratory curriculum.;Analysis of the data revealed a consistent picture of students enrolled in the MORE laboratory course developing significantly enhanced metacognitive abilities, understanding of the fundamental chemistry ideas studied in the general chemistry course, and abilities to solve near transfer and isomorphic examination problems compared with the Control group. The design of the Model-Observe-Reflect-Explain (MORE) laboratory instruction around our three principles encouraged and supported students' development of skills for reflection upon and revision of their understanding of the basic chemistry ideas studied in the laboratory, resulting in improved learning and problem-solving.;Part II. Raman spectroscopy studies of the synthesis of cuprates in Molten Hydroxide Fluxes. The goal of the research presented here was to refine the model of cuprate synthesis in alkali metal hydroxide melts by using Raman spectroscopy to directly determine the oxo and metal-oxo solution species present in hydroxide melts under particular reaction conditions.;The Raman spectroscopy studies described in this thesis were successful at contributing to an improved understanding of the behavior of copper in molten hydroxide solutions. In addition, the Raman spectra provide the first direct evidence of the existence of a stable Cu3+ species in molten hydroxides solutions open to the air at temperatures above about 400°C.;One key finding of the Raman spectroscopy studies was that, contrary to what was previously postulated, Cu3+ was found to be more stable in dry, highly oxidizing melt conditions at high temperatures than it is in melts of intermediate dryness and temperature. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
