Comprehensive Training of Undergraduates Majoring in Chemical Education by Designing and Implementing a Simple Thread-Based Microfluidic Experiment

Abstract

We developed a comprehensive training module for the undergraduates majoring in chemical education with a simple microfluidic experiment. The students were required to read a scientific reference offered by the instructor, then design and implement a microfluidic experiment for real sample analysis by making some modifications to the method described in the reference. Finally, the students were required to evaluate the analytical results with a standard method and write an experimental report. This reading–designing–implementing–evaluating–writing (RDIEW) module aims to enhance the students’ experimental skills as well as their abilities at designing experiments and reading English scientific literature. More importantly, the concept of microfluidic analysis was successfully introduced to the undergraduates majoring in chemical education by this training module, which may facilitate the introduction of microfluidic devices to chemistry courses at high schools. This 1 week (3 h per day) module was developed for the undergraduates majoring in chemical education at the sixth semester. The feedback from the students indicated that the learning objectives of this training module were met.