Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

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Direct Connection to Policy Area 5 of The Illinois Commitment Science Labs Renovation Project Morton College What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice? The need addressed by the Science Labs Renovation Project is to support the College’s science disciplines which contribute to Morton College’s goal of developing responsive curricula and programs to serve community needs by offering an array of science classes. The project supports student academic achievement in the sciences, in line with Morton College’s stated mission to enhance the quality of life of our diverse community through exemplary teaching and learning opportunities, community service and life-long learning. Students participate in the sciences for various reasons: to fulfill general education requirements as prerequisites to courses and programs, and also because they have a general interest in science. Often, students taking science classes are interested in health-related careers like nursing, physical therapist assistant, and massage therapist, which are offered at Morton College, or pharmacy, pre-dent or pre-med, which requires transferring to a 4-year institution. These careers offer a high starting wage and the job outlook is strong in the metropolitan Chicago area. For example, currently, there is a shortage of about 2,500 nurses of the Chicago metropolitan area. By the year 2010, without educational and regulatory intervention, the shortage in Illinois is expected to surpass 6,000 nurses (Chicago Metropolitan Healthcare Council, 2006). As this occurs, the number of applications for nursing at Morton College has increased steadily. The Science Labs Renovation Project contributes to providing quality academic programs, preparing students well for demanding fields in health and sciences. Description of the effective practice: In 2005, a major project was undertaken to renovate the science laboratories in order to provide state of the art instructional space. The renovation impacted the disciplines of life sciences, physical sciences and chemistry. The old labs were small and did not meet ADA compliance standards. The newly renovated labs provide more space for demonstrations, which contributes to the understanding by visual learners. ADA compliant hoods, sinks, aisles and workspaces are now present in each lab. How does this practice achieve sustainability? Interest in the sciences continues to be in high demand as job opportunities in the areas of health and sciences increase. Morton College has demonstrated commitment to the sciences, not only through the renovation of the lab but also through the dedication of the faculty and staff. In 2005 the College used almost $2 million dollars of unreserved funds to demolish then rebuild a new state of the art science facility. The faculty was part of the planning and worked closely with Physical Plant and the Architects (HERA). Planning for computer technology in the sciences continues to be an issue. Centralizing the budget for technology has improved the capabilities of the College to deliver high-tech instruction. Equipment specific to each discipline such as microscopes, gas chromatographs, and PASCO Interfaces are planned for in each area’s annual budget. Faculty is asked to contribute to the planning and budgeting in their area. The sciences are an area of innovation. The instructors are enthusiastic about including technology instruction, developing new courses, ways to deliver courses, mentoring adjunct faculty and contributing to College improvement initiatives. Students are required to take a science when transferring or for completion of an Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) and an Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree. Students earning an Associate in Liberal Studies (ALS) or an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) may take a science to fulfill their Mathematics and Science general education requirement. The AA, AFA, and AS degrees require students to include one laboratory course. The need for relevant science courses is part of college requirements almost everywhere and Morton College will continue to meet the demand with upgraded facilities to enhance student education. What are the results/measurable outcomes? The Renovation Project resulted in direct and indirect with advantages to student learning and faculty teaching. Life Sciences Life Sciences has two laboratories, one for biology and the second, a shared space for Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology. Enhancements to the biology lab allowed the College to have expanded course offerings, a benefit to students in programs with science requisites and overall, science enrollments are increasing. For example, Morton College now offers a course Plants and Society (BIO 160/161) that adds to the variety of courses for all university transfer programs. The College recognized that Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology were highly valued courses for district constituents (residents and those in the district workforce). Morton College has a recognized nursing program leading to the AAS making graduates eligible to sit for the national licensing examination (NCLEX). The laboratory spaces were built 168
with a separate Anatomy and Physiology room for cadavers. It is now possible to have multiple cadavers tagged and available for instruction, where the old lab space allowed for fewer cadavers to be open for viewing. Chemistry In the past, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry were taken by transfer students. In addition, CHM 100 – Fundamentals of Chemistry is taken by 2-year Nursing students. While all the new science labs provide a more inviting atmosphere, the Chemistry lab has especially benefited from improved lighting. Also, the new chemistry lab is much safer environment with hoods that work at current industry standard, more eyewashes, and a safety shower. The chemicals are now stored in new flammable cabinets with adequate ventilation. In addition, the set up of the new lab better utilizes the space and fosters group or team learning with each team having its own computer and monitor. New electrical systems have been provided with surge protection. The College has shown a commitment to providing our students with state of the art equipment. A crushed ice maker while not a showy piece of equipment has been greatly appreciated allowing the students to get ice on their own and not having to spend valuable lab time crushing it and not disrupting the lab with the noise of the portable ice crusher used previously. The new dishwasher will help provide all the students with the clean glassware that is so necessary to obtaining accurate results. Physical Sciences The Physics lab used for Physics and Physical Science has been renovated to improve instruction. Twelve computer stations were upgraded. Included in the Physics lab renovation was more equipment such as digital multimeters, thermometers, a PASCO computer interface for free fall experiments and plot data. Also, the Planetarium was renovated and a new projector installed. Students planning to transfer to pre-pharmacy and pre-dent take General Physics. Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering transfer students take Physics I, II, and III. Physical Science fulfills a general education requirement and is taken by those students majoring in Secondary Education. All of the laboratories were wired for computers, projectors and Internet access. The funding for the computer hardware and installation was not in the renovation budget. The Anatomy and Physiology laboratory obtained computers in the fall 2002 before renovation. The Chemistry lab obtained six of the twelve planned computers. The projectors are budgeted for separately and procurement and installation are dependent on the campus-wide projects. Lab Experiences In Biology, Chemistry and Physics, lab experiences are enhanced because students have the space and equipment to work more efficiently. Although it is not required, in some classes, much of the work is done in groups, as students prefer to work this way. Individual student performance can better be assessed. The larger size of the lab itself has made organizing lab materials that students are using simpler and less confusing for students. Keeping the microbiology students on one side of the lab has promoted safety. In Anatomy and Physiology, the larger cadaver lab allowed more students at a time to participate in cadaver viewing. In fact, several cadavers can be used at a time, something not possible in the old space. Student learning is assessed each semester by the faculty. With a small full-time faculty group, the flow of information in the past has been accomplished informally. The faculty can focus on how students are learning in our renovated labs. The sciences will also continue to be included in the general education objective assessments at the college level as well. Although the lab space is not specifically isolated as a benefit in these assessments it is reasonable to mention these state of the art facilities as improving access and learning. Contact Information Name: Dr. Fernando Figueroa Email: Fernando.figueroa@morton.edu Phone: (708) 656-8000 169
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Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

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