Knowledge pills for the learning of safety rules and basic laboratory operations in the master’s degree in chemical science and technology subjects

Abstract

[eng] The Master’s Program in Chemical Science and Technology (MCTE) of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) provides its students with the necessary skills to have a global vision of chemistry and related areas, as well as of their industrial processes, and to find answers to problems and societal challenges from the point of view of chemistry and its technology. The students’ access profile is open to graduates from different scientific disciplines with basic training in chemistry. As a consequence, we find students of diverse training for whom, although they have the basic knowledge to take the master’s degree, in some cases, it is recommended that they complete or update some issues of their previous training to facilitate the acquisition of the advanced skills that the master’s degree provides. Based on previous academic years, one of the most important shortfalls of these students is their training in practical laboratory work, including knowledge of essential safety rules and basic operations of a chemical laboratory. Taking into account this situation, we have designed a bunch of knowledge pills based on short videos, which have allowed to present contents in a flexible, and dynamic way and with an immediate feedback, to reinforce the basic knowledge on the chemical laboratory of the MCTE’s students. Two fundamental topics have been covered in the prepared videos: On one hand, videos on safety rules and guidelines, which include information on personal protective equipment, chemical storage, waste management, work with high and low temperatures and emergency situations, and, on the other hand, videos on basic laboratory operations such as solutions preparation, filtration, weighing substances, pipette handling, or the use of a pH meter, among others. The prepared knowledge pills have been incorporated into a digital platform (Aula Virtual – a university internet-based environment) so that students could autonomously complete or update those issues of their previous training that they consider necessary. In addition, the prepared videos have been completed with self-evaluation questionnaires in order to reinforce the learning of the contents treated in the knowledge pills.