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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 20
(2015) pp 240-241
I Am Really Ever So Not Good at Graph Drawing: The Charlie and Lola Approach to Lineweaver-Burk Plots
Ellen S. Beaumont* and Alan-Shaun Wilkinson
College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK, e.beaumont@derby.ac.uk
Received June 15, 2015. Accepted August 5, 2015
Published: 6 September 2015
Abstract. Marking exam scripts can be eye-opening to instructors in terms of identifying errors in their preconceptions of students’ data handling and graph drawing skills. This short communication reports a novel approach to reducing the errors of undergraduate Biological and Forensic Science students in graphical representation of enzyme kinetic data. The approach involves using fictional units, the names of which are drawn from a popular children’s animated television series. Increases of 30.8% and 25.9% were recorded in the marks awarded for correct axis labelling in an end of module exam when compared to the two previous cohorts, suggesting the approach may be worthy of further exploration.
Key Words: In the Classroom; biochemistry; enzyme kinetics; graphical representation; reciprocal; common errors
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: e.beaumont@derby.ac.uk)
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