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| WILLIAM DONOVAN |
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Assistant Professor
B.S., 1996, University of Delaware
Ph.D., 2001, Purdue University
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2001-2002, East Carolina University |
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Office: KNCL 403a
(330) 972-6064 |
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Lab: KNCL 403
(330) 972-6651 |
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| Email: wdonova@uakron.edu |
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| Website: http://www2.uakron.edu/genchem/ |
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| Research Interest |
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Current interests include development and evaluation of computer-based laboratories in freshman chemistry, the use of polling devices in large lecture courses, and math preparation and success in gateway courses including freshman chemistry. Currently, we are implementing computer-based lab activities in Qualitative Analysis and will extend the computer-based activities to Principles of Chemistry Lab and General, Organic, and Biochemistry Lab in the next year. I piloted the use of polling devices in Principles of Chemistry lectures in spring 2004 using eInstruction's CPS system, and other faculty have joined in the use of CPS since then. We are currently measuring the effects on student success and attitude that the CPS has in these large lecture courses. The use and evaluation of CPS in my lecture classes in 2004-05 was funded by the University of Akron's Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Starting in Spring 2005 I will be one of the leaders of the chemistry team of the Northeast Ohio Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education (NEOCex), which is part of a four-yerar $1 million grant from the Ohio Board of Regents to UA, Youngstown State University, Cleveland State University, and Kent State University. The chemistry team will work together to develop, implement, and evaluate new learning modules for K-12 chemistry and science education in 2005-2006. NEOCex's goal is to improve teaching and learning through collaboration among higher education department faculty members, middle and high school teachers, and Ohio Resource Center personnel. Participating K-12 school districts include Akron, Aurora, Canton, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, East Cleveland, Kent, and Euclid, Parma, Stow-Munroe Falls, Streetsboro, and Youngstown.
Other interests include implementation of demonstrations, online homework, and tangible and 3-D visualizations in large lectures, and evaluation of Chemistry for Everyone, our course for middle-level preservice and inservice teachers. Results and progress reports on these projects have been presented at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education and National Meetings of the American Chemical Society, and manuscripts are in preparation for the Journal of Chemical Education and The Chemical Educator.
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| Selected Publications |
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Students’ Use of Web-Based Tutorial Materials and Their Understanding of Chemistry
Concepts. Donovan, W.J. & Nakhleh, M.B. Journal of Chemical Education
975-980.
Evaluation of Interactive Technologies for Chemistry Web Sites: Educational Materials
Organic Chemistry. Nakhleh, M.B, Donovan, W.J., & Parrill, A.L. Journal
in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2000) 19(4), 355-378.
Final Report: Evaluation of Interactive Technologies for Chemistry Web Sites:
Materials for Organic Chemistry. Nakhleh, M.B, Donovan, W.J., & Parrill,
To the National Science Foundation, 1998. (NSF Grant No. HRD-9752985)
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