Foundations and Frontiers

“Foundations and Frontiers” is the theme of the 2011 the Gordon Research Conference on Chemistry Education Research and Practice. The focus of the conference is to explore the synergy between the foundations and frontiers of chemistry education. Presentations will explore the foundations of what is known about how students learn, the basic tenets of chemistry education research, and best practices in the classroom and laboratory. Complementary to the foundational knowledge are the frontiers of chemistry education. What can we discover from the emergent research on student learning in chemistry and related science fields? How can emerging research inform and transform classroom and laboratory practices?

The meeting will bring together investigators in chemistry, biochemistry, cognition, and other STEM disciplines to inform each other about the frontiers of research in their communities as well as to provide synergistic opportunities to learn from one another. Topics of discussion will include:

• Visual literacy in biochemistry. What is it, how can it be measured, how can it be promoted in students?
• How is representational competence developed across the curriculum?
• How can curricular innovations be sustained? What are key organizational elements to sustaining change?
• What are the newest curricular innovations in upper division courses such as Instrumentation, Analytical Sciences, Biochemistry, and Physical Chemistry? How are these shared in the digital age?
• What are the new initiatives at the National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education and how do they interface with efforts in chemistry and science education?

The conference format includes invited plenary sessions, contributed poster sessions, and free time to interact and network with conferees. Conference participants are strongly encouraged to remain the entire week.