The Chemistry Clinic : authentic assessment in a student led environment

Willison, Debra (2024) The Chemistry Clinic : authentic assessment in a student led environment. Journal of Chemical Education, 101 (7). pp. 2703-2709. ISSN 0021-9584 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01319)

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Abstract

For many years, a key focus in Universities has been on ensuring that students develop employability skills as well as developing discipline specific skills during their studies. This has often resulted in the provision of work-integrated learning opportunities or embedding employability skills training within degree programmes. The Chemistry Clinic at the University of Strathclyde is an activity that seeks to incorporate industry driven, inquiry-based authentic assessment with the development of the key skills sought by employers. It also provides the opportunity for students to contribute to the Higher Education Knowledge Exchange agenda in positive ways. Evidence suggests that involvement in the Chemistry Clinic has a positive effect on encouraging students to progress to research postgraduate study in Chemistry or aligned areas. Additionally, student feedback indicates that the Chemistry Clinic has had a positive effect on students’ learning outcomes related to employability. Finally, the extent of industry involvement and the feedback from industry partners illustrate that the chemical industry believes that Chemistry Clinic students provide a sustainable and efficient source of expertise. The development and implementation of the Chemistry Clinic are described in detail and have implications for practice. Other chemistry departments and a wider range of disciplines may wish to consider introducing this approach into their degree portfolios.

ORCID iDs

Willison, Debra ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1977-0422;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)