TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

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Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 144-147

Understanding the Upper-Level Chemistry Students’ Perspective on Science Communication through Wikipedia Project-Based Learning: A Case-Study and Intervention

Lisa M. Eytel^*,†,‡ and Eleanor V. H. Vandegrift^§

^†Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Science Literacy Program, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, ^‡Present address: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, lisaeytel@boisestate.edu; ^§Science Literacy Program, Department of Biology, and Global Studies Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403 Received April 30, 2019. Accepted October 29, 2019.

Published: 4 December 2019

Abstract. Students and the public rely on Wikipedia as an information source; it is often the first “hit” in a Google search of nearly every topic, and most people (and some professors!) choose to use it as an initial reference point when investigating a topic. This creates a need for the most up-to-date, accessible, and accurate scientific information on Wikipedia. However, few trained graduate-level chemists have practice writing about complex chemistry concepts for consumption by a broad audience. The open-source editing format of Wikipedia provides an easy platform for educators to promote science communication training within a graduate-level course. We designed an end-of-term Wikipedia writing project for a graduate-level course in physical organic chemistry. This adaptable project-based intervention gauged graduate-level chemistry students’ definitions of science communication and acted as a means to incorporate written science communication practice into the graduate chemistry curriculum.

Key Words: In the Classroom; organic chemistry; graduate education; science communication; write-to-learn

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: lisaeytel@boisestate.edu)

Article in PDF format (142 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

Student guidelines for the final project and examples of submitted Wikipedia pages completed by students are included as supporting files. (861 KB)

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