Connecting Learning with Students’ Interests and Daily Liveswith Project Assignment: “It is My Project.”

摘要

The General Chemistry course is a required or elective science course for engineeringtechnology programs at Kansas State University at Salina. A hands-on ‘Periodic Table’project in the General Chemistry course was assigned (1) to respect a variety of learningstyles, (2) to foster connection between the basic science and engineering technologyprogram courses, and (3) to connect student learning to personal interests and to havethem enjoy an “ownership” of learning. The outcomes of this non-traditional teachingstrategy were rewarding: (1) students were motivated in learning about the subjects,chemistry and various engineering technology areas, (2) students connected theirpersonal areas of interests to academic majors programs and daily lives, and (3) manystudents in engineering technology programs incorporated kinesthetic learning styles forthis assignment. In course portfolios and survey, students indicated that theseassignments became enjoyable and valuable learning projects they were attached to in apersonal way. This non-traditional teaching strategy has increased my enthusiasm toknow my students on a personal level through observations of their unique talents andways of connecting chemistry with engineering technology program courses.