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REFLECTION -->| Reflection 1: Comprehension of Content
Enduring Understandings (EUs) |
| How the rubric item was
addressed in this reflection: This reflection shows how I have grown to have a stronger comprehension of science content as described in the program and course Enduring Understandings and to demonstrate new and increased understanding of fundamental science concepts studied in program courses, not small facts. WHAT is the evidence? WHY did I choose the evidence? HOW does the evidence show growth? |
As a participant in the MCE program, I have taken 8 content courses that have reintroduced me to topics in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Inorganic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Information Technology Associated with Chemistry. I had several "A ha, Eureka!" moments in each course where things seemed to click and make sense to me in a way that they had not when I had first learned these concepts for my undergraduate Chemistry degree. The following pieces of evidences are just a small (certainly not exhaustive) proof of the tremendous deepening of my understanding of several core chemical concepts. I present 3 sets of evidence (baseline and later) that show my growth for three (at least) EUs related to:
Please click on the reflection link under each enduring understanding to go to the respective reflection and evidence: |
| Enduring Understanding A: Chem506: Inorganic Chemistry (Summer 2008) Atoms & Schrodinger's Equation: The "particle" and "wave" description of electrons and other subatomic particles are attempts to explain complicated behavior in terms of simplistic models with physical significance to us; neither is "real," nor sufficient and should not be taken literally. (1) "wave functions"--families of functions describing electron density in different regions of space ("shape"), related by a series of simple numbers ("Quantum numbers"--n, l, ml, ms). . . . (3) The sign of the wave function in various regions of space does NOT represent charge, but indicates the magnitude of the function. The square of the value of this function at some point (x, y, z) is related to the "probability of finding the electron at that point"
Enduring Understanding B: Chem507: Molecular Spectroscopy (Fall 2008/ Spring 2009) (#1) Atoms obey the laws of quantum mechanics and have energy levels: Vibrational energy & Rotational Energy (#2) Understanding light and how light affects matter are paramount to understanding spectroscopy: Types of transitions resulting from absorbance of different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and how this information can be utilized to gain understanding about molecules.
Enduring Understanding C: Chem503: Organic Chemistry II (Fall 2007/ Spring 2008) Aldehydes and Ketones: The polarity of the carbonyl group activates it toward reaction with Lewis acids and bases. Enols & Enolates: The reaction of enolates with electrophiles is one of the fundamentally important reactions for forming carbon-carbon bonds/ The aldol condensation is an especially useful reaction for buliding up more complex carbon skeletons from simpler ones.
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