This week, some of you will walk into your first chemistry lab. Normally this should be an exciting experience, right? With all of the glassware, instruments, incubators and chemicals just waiting to be used, class becomes fun. That is, until you open that wooden drawer holding your tools and you see their grimy, gross and unsanitary condition.
I have seen tongs rendered useless because they’re covered in rust, and contaminated, unusable test tubes with precipitate condensed on the bottom. Could it be a lack of funds, an experiment gone wrong or, perhaps more simply, the product of sanitary laziness from the class who previously occupied the lab?
Next, we arrive at the experiments, which are perhaps the first indicator this chemistry lab is not what you imagined. Isn’t it the hands-on, trial-and-error atmosphere we expect during a science lab that fuels discussion and engages the student? I soon learned this was not the case, at least not at in my experience at ASU.
The science majors reading this know getting a personable and fair teacher’s assistant is half of the battle. Sophomore global health major and pre-med student, Keilana Valdez spoke about her own experience.
“The TA always showed up to lab upset and didn’t like it when students asked questions,” she said.
Does the department rely too heavily on graduate students to instruct the undergrads? At what point do we stop to ask who is really benefitting from this relationship — the potentially disinterested teacher’s assistant who gets credit for teaching a class — or the undergrad, still finding his or her academic legs?
Most teachers argue the lab section helps students socially. Chemistry professor Ron Briggs said, “Students who are able to work effectively in a collaborative environment will be much better prepared for what they see in the job market, where they don't get to pick who they work with and will invariably have to deal with weaker cohorts.”
OK, so we benefit by gaining social and team-building skills, but what about when not every member of the team shows up to play? There’s always the constant stress of wondering if a lab partner will send you their part of the lab report or if they will contribute to a project.
And then you have to worry if the information they presented is actually correct. If they’re wrong, you’re also wrong.
I’m not saying labs should be cut, or they are unnecessary; science classes wouldn’t be science classes without the lab. Perhaps it’s time for ASU’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry to wake up and take care of these relentless problems.
With a little attention and work, labs could be enjoyable and actually useful. You never know, maybe a more appealing lab would motivate more students. Reach the columnist at obrunaci@asu.edu
