Contact
Dr. Michael W. Justik
Deparment of Chemistry
School of Science
Penn State Erie
The Behrend College
4205 College Drive
Erie PA, 16563-0203
(814)-898-6412
Deparment of Chemistry
School of Science
Penn State Erie
The Behrend College
4205 College Drive
Erie PA, 16563-0203
(814)-898-6412
Presently, my responsibilities include the development of the CHEM 430 Organic Spectral Analysis course within our curriculum here at Behrend. The course has been developed to provide the students with an overview of modern spectroscopic techniques, including FT-IR, multinuclear FT-NMR, UV-vis and mass spectrometry. This course will follow the "recipe" of other successful teaching experiences of the past fourteen years of my lecturing career. Specifically, a traditional lecture course which utilizes technology where a true advantage is gained in student comprehension of the material. The course will incorporate peer-led workshops, where the students will present materials they are having problems with before each exam. Their peers will be encouraged to help and work out difficulties they are having with the material themselves, under my guidance.
Great things are on the way for CHEM 213, but that will have to wait until the 2010-2011 academic year after rennovations of the Behrend Science Building are complete. The new space for organic and advanced laboratories features an 'open' design where the fume hoods are moved to the peripherial walls for increased student interaction and safety. An instructors podium with a demonstration bench has been added as well as the ability to use multimedia presentations during the laboratory.
CHEM 210/212, the traditional two semester organic chemistry lecture continues to be a source of pride for me and one of the most enjoyable courses to teach. While the approach may seem antiquated compared to CHEM 430 or the future of CHEM 213, I believe in creating enthusiasm for the sheer wonder of what you can achieve using the tools of organic chemistry. Students are engaged (mostly in CHEM 212) with synthesis assignments that feature 'real' compounds that they are familiar with. The study workshops before exams are very informal and allow the students an opportunity to ask developed questions and to address weaknesses in understanding the material.