Two chemistry professors from William Carey University and the University of Southern Mississippi have teamed up to write a new kind of textbook, “Guided Inquiry for General Chemistry.”
Co-author Dr. Mary Mackey is an assistant professor of chemistry and physical science in the WCU School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. J. Hugh Broome is an assistant teaching professor of chemistry in the USM School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
“Guided Inquiry for General Chemistry” gives students working together in classroom settings an interactive introduction to key concepts in chemistry.
“There has been a recent evolution in chemistry teaching using the ‘POGIL’ method, which stands for Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning. The focus is small group work facilitated by an instructor, and there are several texts available,” Mackey said.
“However, we found that these texts often did not give students enough information to be used on their own. We decided to write a text that tries to be the best of both worlds. It combines small group work and practice with just enough information – less than a textbook, more than a worksheet – to help students apply concepts and work problems.”
“Guided Inquiry for General Chemistry” was published in late 2020.
“It is already in use at both USM and William Carey, and quite a few universities have requested review copies. That doesn’t mean it will be adopted, but it does mean chemistry professors are looking for new teaching tools,” said Broome, who earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at WCU.
“The book promotes active learning and helps introduce students to complex chemistry concepts by scaffolding questions.”
The textbook covers topics and ideas presented in a first-year chemistry course for science majors. Each chapter introduces readers to fundamental chemistry concepts, challenges them to think and reflect on those concepts, and examines essential applications of those concepts. Topics in the book include atomic structure, bonding, Lewis dot structures, nomenclature, chemical reaction types, stoichiometry, states of matter, kinetics, equilibrium, energetics, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.
For more information, visit education publisher Cognella at
https://cognella.com.
