ERIC Number: EJ1444085
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Jun
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
Investigating the Impact of RAMP-Based Safety Instruction on Student Learning in an Organic Chemistry Lab Course
Monica Soma Hensley; Nikita L. Burrows; Andrew J. Galerneau; Amanda P. Bekkala; Kedmon N. Hungwe
Journal of Chemical Education, v101 n6 p2203-2214 2024
The American Chemical Society advocates a shift from rule-based to risk-based safety education for chemistry graduates, emphasizing meaningful student engagement in the risk assessment process for laboratory work. To implement this paradigm shift, we introduced RAMP (Recognize Hazards, Assess Risk, Minimize Risk, and Prevent Emergencies)-based safety instruction, fostering interactive and constructive student engagement, within an undergraduate organic chemistry lab course. We evaluated the impact of this RAMP-based safety education through prepost treatment quizzes and semistructured interviews. Students received training on RAMP principles and conducted risk assessments using an adapted Job Hazard Analysis format for their prelab quiz for each experiment throughout the semester. Our quantitative analysis of the pre- and post-treatment quizzes revealed statistically significant differences, with the experimental group showing improved cognitive outcomes, compared to the control group. Additionally, analysis of the semistructured interviews conducted to explore student perspectives on the RAMP-based safety instruction revealed the positive effects of the RAMP-based safety instruction on students' learning, supported by the quantitative findings. Students exhibited increased cognitive and behavioral engagement, reflecting the potential benefits of this approach.
Descriptors: Organic Chemistry, Laboratory Training, Safety Education, Science Laboratories, Hazardous Materials, Risk Assessment, College Science, Undergraduate Students, Laboratory Experiments, Science Tests
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A