Considerable TA camaraderie develops as a result of the three-week orientation. During the semester TAs usually run their own staff meetings, offering insights about problems students might encounter while completing the inquiry investigations. In addition, we have found that teaching assistants depend less on lecturing to students. In addition, some former General Chemistry TAs, with the help of the faculty in charge, are now incorporating elements of inquiry into the upper level courses they now teach. The laboratory program in General chemistry culminates with student group presentations of their findings.
Students present their results orally in a presentation to their lab section.
In addition they prepare a poster that summarizes their procedures and results. Other chemistry faculty participate in the poster sessions by wandering through the labs asking students to comment on their work. The poster session and presentation activities have been successful in providing students with experience to develop their communication skills in various forms. Their presentations and posters have been very creative and are often insightful.