Calibrated Peer Review^TM

CPR is a comprehensive, web-delivered instructional tool, which not only promotes student understanding through writing but also develops student critical thinking skills through the process of evaluation and reviewing. Because the program is web-delivered, computer-managed and uses peer review, instructors can use the CPR program with any class size; students can do their assignments wherever they have web access; and administrators do not need to provide additional teaching resources for grading. In a CPR assignment students write an essay about a topic chosen by the instructor; they are then trained to review essays on this topic; they then anonymously evaluate three peer essays and finally assess their own essays in light of what they have learned from their training and their peer's essays.

Preparing Future Faculty

Preparing graduate students for the tri-partite teaching, research, and service responsibilities of faculty is an important goal of graduate chemistry education. The objective of our seminar and research in this area is to provide our postdoctoral and graduate students with the most relevant knowledge and skills for them to be successful in their job searches and their academic careers tenure process no matter what the balance between teaching and research in their chosen institution. The program is open to science graduate student or postdoctoral fellow who is considering a career in academics.

Chemistry 272G - Issues in Teaching in Higher Education
Tuesdays 11:30am - 1:00pm - Young Hall 2033 (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Syllabus

Useful links:
LinkIn: Preparing Future Faculty at UCLA Group
Chronicle of Higher Education Careers
Academic Careers
Academic Job Openings

California Chemistry Diagnostic Test Project (CDTP)

This California project, which is composed of faculty from all three segments of higher education and high schools has set a standard for diagnostic assessment for Chemistry. A well designed assessment instrument must be both valid and reliable. CDTP is committed to the rational, rigorous and careful design of tests that can diagnose students' preparation for a traditional general chemistry course in college. The exams developed by this committee are distributed nationally by the ACS Division of Chemical Education Examinations Institute. The exams have been approved for use in the California Community College system by the Chancellor's office. The tests have served as a framework for research in assessment at UCLA and other institutions.

Useful links
ACS Division of Chemical Education Exams Institute
"Analysis of Success in General Chemistry Based on Diagnostic Testing Using Logistic Regression" Legg, Margaret J.; Legg, Jason C.; Greenbowe, Thomas J., J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 1117

Laboratory Practice and Materials Development

Our General Chemistry program is continually developing new inquiry-based laboratory assignments that foster critical thinking skills as they introduce students to the process of how chemistry is known. We are particularly interested in developing assignments where there is no "right" answer either because the chemistry is unknown or the samples being analyzed are "authentic." Student data from these assignments often become the basis for publications

Useful links:
Laboratory Technique Videos

Science Teacher Education Program

California has an urgent and critical need for highly qualified science and math middle and secondary school teachers. At UCLA we have created two programs to support and assist science and math majors explore teaching careers and begin their credential work while they are still undergraduates. UCLA California Teach, offers opportunities for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to participate in a three-sequence set of service learning courses. The seminars, which are led by exemplary practicing teachers, are complimented with field experiences in local schools. Students who decide as juniors or seniors that they would like to explore and/or pursue teaching careers may join the Science Teacher Education Program (STEP). In this joint L&S/GSEIS program, students begin their credential work as seniors, finish the credential in the summer, and complete the M.Ed, while teaching in a UCLA partner school during the following year.

Useful links:
UCLA California Teach Teacher Resource Center -Young Hall 1037
UCLA California Teach
Science Teacher Education Program (STEP)
Math for Teaching Major