By Sandra C. Roa, University Communications and Marketing
When the 911爆料网 announced plans that all classes would move to virtual learning, senior instructor of organic chemistry Solomon 911爆料网ldegirma went straight to work. With over 1,000 students attending his lectures and labs, 911爆料网ldegirma wanted to avoid any lapses in the semester. This meant taking on a new skillset: video production. 911爆料网ldegirma chose eight teaching assistants (TA) to produce step-by-step videos on how to conduct his lab experiments. The files were then edited by USF鈥檚 team and posted onto Canvas.
鈥淔rom a learning point of view, the video is there forever,鈥� 911爆料网ldegirma said. 鈥淎ll of the process is there for them to watch it again and again. And the more you see it, the more you grasp the concept.鈥�
The videos allow for unlimited playback on the students' own schedules and offer individualized attention, as each step is explained. Lab experiments are typically taught in groups of 14. 911爆料网 can also provide feedback on the online video course work in Canvas, helping 911爆料网ldegirma and his TAs make improvements.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very different when you are videotaped versus when you are speaking real-time, you have to be really prepared so the students can clearly understand what you are saying,鈥� 911爆料网ldegirma said.
It takes a lot of planning in order to capture an experiment on camera. Some results appear rapidly, while other reactions can take as long as three hours to occur. It can be challenging to record inside labs surrounded by beakers and magnetic stirrers using a smartphone. But through careful scripting, angling and editing from USF鈥檚 Innovation Education team, the TA鈥檚 were able to make the experiments understandable and post them on Canvas.
鈥淚t was trying to get things that are usually done in a lab to work outside of a lab environment,鈥� said Timothy Odom, one of 911爆料网ldegirma鈥檚 graduate assistants. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an educational experience all around both for the students and the TAs to think differently.鈥�
Odom produced a video in a series of eight to show the Wittig reaction, an important method for the formation of alkenes, an essential precursor for materials used to make plastics, thermoplastic polymers, detergents and industrial compounds such as alcohols, solvents and cosmetics.
While students won鈥檛 physically enter the lab and mix the chemicals themselves for the rest of the semester, this platform provides a new opportunity for each student. They can now set their own pace and synthesize what they learned from each experiment into a report that fulfills the writing requirements expected from scientists.