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© 1997 Rainer Glaser. All rights reserved.
The University of Missouri at Columbia, Chemistry 416, Organic
Spectroscopy, FS97
Collaborative Learning Project #2: Creation of Problem Assignments |
Purpose
Good problems dealing with advanced 1-dimensional pulse sequences or with
2-dimensional NMR techniques are hard to find. It is the purpose of
this group project to create one such problem. You will have to present
the problem assignment orally to the class after the class had some
opportunity to work on the problem. The presentation should begin
with an explanation of the context in which you want to place the
assignment, should be followed by a clear definition of the assignment,
and then continue with a concise and precise discussion of
a reasonable strategy to solve the assignment based on the information and
spectra provided on the assignment sheet. The project will be evaluated
via peer review after the oral presentation.
Assignment
(1) Read the current literature (1994ff) and search for papers that employ
advanced 1-dimensional pulse sequences or 2-dimensional NMR methods for
the identification of organic compounds. Consider only top-notch
peer-reviewed not-for-profit research journals so as to assure the highest
quality.
(2) Identify one paper that you think illustrates an important point
about an important method very well.
(3) Create a problem assignment based on this paper. Submit this
problem assignment in electronic form along with a write-up (also in
electronic form) detailing the process of the collaborative process.
(4) Present the problem and its solution to the class. Defend
your presentation and face evaluation via peer review.
Submission of Write-ups
Your write-up of the problem assignment
needs to be emailed to the instructor as an attachment and thsi
write-up will consist in two separate parts. Part I
contains the information about the groups identity and the groups actions
and dynamics. Part II of the write-up consists in the created
problem assignment.
Incomplete submissions will be returned by electronic mail with comments
as to what additions and improvements are required. The display of
spectra is essential to this project and the necessary spectra should be
scanned. You may want to edit the scanned images with a graphics editor
to adapt presentation of the spectra to your needs. The write-ups can
be prepared in either of two formats.
HTML Format. If you have expertise at writing HTML (hypertext
mark-up language), then please submit your report as two html file with
the names "group_n_project2_PI.html" and "group_n_project2_PII.html"
where n is the number of your group. If you created any files that you
want to link to the problem assignemnt page, start the names of these
files all with "group_n_" and include these files as attachements as well.
For example, this write-up contains images of spectra and these have to be
supplied as GIF or JPEG files. In the end, I would like to have the
group_n_project2_PI.html and group_n_project2_PII.html files together with
all its local links in the Chemistry 416 site (for archival
purposes).
WORD Format. You can email two WORD file to me that contain parts
I and II. I will convert these files into a PDF files and post these file
on the web. The submitted WORD files should be all inclusive, that it,
they should contain all text as well as images of spectra.
The write-up of the project must contain the following information.
Please stick closely to the sequence. Also, you should review the
peer review instructions
for this assignment before you write your report.
Part I: Group Identity, Actions & Dynamics.
(Limited to 2 pages, line spacing 1.5 lines.)
(1) Group Name
(2) Group Members
The names of all group members and their e-mail addresses in the format
Last Name, First Name, e-mail address with one entry per line.
(3) Group Meetings
Description as to how often the group has met to work on the Chemistry 416
Group Project #2. Include information as to where you have met. Include
accurate estimates of the time spend in each meeting.
(4) Group Dynamics
Briefly describe experiences made while working on this project with the
group. How useful was the group in the quest to identify a suitable
paper on which to base the problem set? How many papers did you consider
before you decided your selection? How many journals did you browse in
the process? Mention advantages and be frank about problemes you
encountered. Comment as to whether the collaborative learning went beyond
working on the Chemistry 416 Group Project. Do you think you benefited on
a personal level from the interactions you have had with your peers while
creating the problem set? Do you think that the creation of a problem set
has increased your analysis of the paper? Conclude by stating whether you
would want to engage in such group activities again.
Types of Questions To Consider
Identification of Components and Relationships (ICR)
Questions in this category seek to emphasize pertinent pieces of
information in the assignment. Questions of this type require the reader
to identify essential pieces of information and identify their logical
value (hypothesis, assumption, deduction, rationale, ...).
Seeking Clarification (SCL)
Questions that fall in this category seek closer definition of material or
clarifying background information.
Reasoning Using Quantitative Data (RQD)
Questions in this category require the interpretation of spectra, graphs,
tables, and figures or the manipulation of data therein.
Evaluation Process (EVL)
Questions in this category require judgement as to whether the conclusions
is justfied by the evidence and whether the given interpretation is the
only one interpretation possible. Questions in this category assess
credibility.
Flexibility and Adaptability of Scientific Reasoning (FAR)
Questions in this category require the extension of concepts and
information presented to unfamiliar situations. Questions of this sort
often are useful to assess whether "the point really came across".
Presentation and Defense
Towards the end of the semester your group will have to present the
problem to the class. At the time of presentation the class will have had
sufficient time to study the problem you created and, if necessary and
desired, to go back to the original paper to catch up on background
information. The presentation should begin with the explanation of the
problem and continue with the discussion of a reasonable strategy to
solve the assignment based on the information and spectra provided on the
assignment sheet. Answer the questions you asked and explain why you
think these questions are particularly useful ones to ask. The
presentation will be followed by audience questions.
Your group may organize the presentation in any way you like. You
can have one speaker or you can have different speakers for different
parts. A group of three might decide to have one session chair and
discussion leader, one person presenting the paper and the problem derived
from it, and the third person handling the discussion of the answers to
the questions.
Relevant Dates and Deadlines
Approval of Topic Selection. Anytime.
Submission of Report. Friday, November 14, 1997. Extended to
Monday, November 17, 1997, by midnight, due to Cume examination.
NO NEW OR REVISED ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
If your complete assignment is not received by this date, all members of
the group are assigned scores of zero.
Submission of Evaluations. Friday, December 5, 1997.
Oral presentations will be scheduled prior to this date and evaluations
should be submitted after the presentation has taken place.
Posting of Final Results of Group Project #2.
Monday, December 8, 1997.