2004 FPG Summer Project #00288

Last Modified: Mar 26, 2004

Name	College	Department or Division
Yi Guo	Chandler-Gilbert Community College	Chemistry
Employee ID	E-mail Address	Work Phone
xxxxxxxx	yi.guo@cgcmail.maricopa.edu	480-732--7246
Project
Title		Location
China-US Conference on Community Colleges in Beijing		Chandler, AZ and Beijing, China
Group Application
This is not a group project

Project Dates and Amounts
	Summer I view timeline details	Summer II view timeline details
Timeline Dates	May 17 - Jun 7, 2004	Jul 5 - Jul 8, 2004
Hours	131.55	32
Wages	$2,924.36	$711.36
Registration Fees	0.00	1,400.00
Subtotals	$2,924.36	$2,111.36
Total Proposal Amount		$5,035.72

Details
Abstract Write a concise overview with descriptive information about your project (location, time span, etc.) not to exceed 120 words. To take advantage of spelling and word count tools, you can compose this in a blank Word document, copy the text, and paste it in below (all formatting will be reset to normal text).
In this project, I will first research and summarize science education practices in community colleges with emphasis on chemistry (5/17 ~ 6/7, utilizing ASU Noble Library and Internet resources). I hope to find what the focuses have been and how they may change to better meet student needs. Then, I will present my findings at the China-US conference on community colleges (7/5~7/8, Beijing). The conference purpose is to develop understanding and promote partnerships among US and Chinese counterparts. By sharing my findings on science (chemistry) education in the community colleges and participate in the conference activities I will have many opportunities to exchange ideas, best practices with both US and Chinese colleagues and to explore global professional interaction possibilities.
Purpose Explain your purpose in depth and include relevancy and components of the project. Include a statement of goals and objectives. This is what you want to do and why.
There are two parts to the purpose of this project: 1) to undertake systematic research on my own profession ---chemical/science education to obtain a better and deeper understanding of the role of chemical/science education in the community colleges; 2) to share my findings at an international conference and to further enhance my knowledge through attending the conference activities and interact with fellow attendees. The technological advancements of today’s world are in fields like nano-technology and gene therapy. The issues being debated include moral implications of cloning and unknown dangers of genetically modified foods. All these were simply unthinkable even just a short ten years ago. At the same time, problems and possible solutions are becoming more and more global. An undisputable fact is how vital science knowledge is for our students, for the general public and for the human race. My goal of the project is to take a thorough look at the what, how, and why's of science teaching, especially chemistry, in the community colleges; to share my findings at the conference and more importantly to obtain inputs from American and Chinese colleagues. The inputs from colleagues close and far along with my own research effort will give me much insights on my daily teaching's role in the big picture of student success within the context of the local community and the more and more globalized world economy. Specifically, the community college chemical/science education practice areas I will research on include: 1) the type of courses offered, such as Introductory Chemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and etc.; 2) the transfer articulations with universities and the majors served by the community college pre-requisite chemistry/science courses; 3) the articulation/cooperation between community college vocational/technical programs and the chemistry/science programs; 4) the instructional approaches in the chemistry/science lectures and labs, and 5) the role of chemistry/science instruction in the development of and support for new programs such as biotechnology. The resources used for the project will be related publications such as Journal of Chemical Education and Journal of College Science Teaching; publications from organizations such as American Association of Community Colleges, American Chemical Society and Arizona Transfer Articulation Support Systems; and web-based information on chemistry/science offerings by various colleges in the US. The objectives of presenting these findings at the China-US Conference on Community Colleges are: 1) to describe and discuss the importance of chemical/science education in the American community colleges; 2) to initiate further discussion on approach differences between the China and US systems; 3) to obtain inputs on future role, approach and possible partnerships.
Professional Growth Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, and possibly other colleagues. How will this project affect you professionally? What skills will you learn? What environment will you be working in, and how will it influence your teaching or other responsibilities?
I would like to do scholarly research in my own profession as an educator and share my findings with colleagues in both US and China. All these would enhance my own knowledge and professionalism as a chemistry educator.Chinese educational system has tremendous challenges, such as the availability of limited higher education opportunities for the world's biggest population. At the same time, Chinese education has successful highlights, much of which is in basic math and science education. This interchange of ideas and understandings with both US and Chinese colleagues will broaden my understanding, give me opportunities to be exposed to other approaches, and in turn help me to grow professionally.I completed my baccalaureate education in China, then obtained graduate education in the US, and have close to thirteen years of experience as a chemistry professor at the post-secondary level. Attending this conference will provide a great opportunity to link together my own background with my current profession, which will help me even more with the internationalization of my course offerings. In addition, I will gain in ability to further the college goal of incorporating diversity into the curriculum, to foster professional relationships with educators both in China and other community colleges, and to contrast the systems with my students in this age of ever increasing globalization.
Benefits
Select the primary area of benefit:	Benefits to the college
What benefit is this project to the group checked above? What new information, ideas, attitudes, skills, appreciation, etc. will you bring back?
Chandler-Gilbert Community college is in the midst of a rapid growth period. The science program is experiencing the same growth. Besides adding sections to meet student population growth, examining how sciences are taught at the community colleges and how the instructions have evolved will provide evidence-based insights into how we can better plan and manage our own growth to meet the needs of not only today’s students but to be positioned to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students the college will serve.In the globalization of today’s economy and society, educational institutes need to constantly look for ways to develop global relationship and form partnerships. The conference on community colleges in Beijing, organized partly by our former chancellor, Paul Elsner, does just that by trying to develop sustainable institutional partnerships with comparable colleges, to expand international exchange network and to explore joint venture possibilities. With my bilingual and bi-culture background, I am in a unique position to explore these opportunities for Chandler-Gilbert and the rest of the Maricopa District. Specifically, I am and will be involved in Chandler-Gilbert's planning for future course and program offering, especially in the chemistry/science areas. I am a member of chemistry instructional council. In Chandler-Gilbert, I work closely with international program advisor for activities such as education exchange visits between Maricopa and Chinese Colleges. I am a member of the APIA association of the district. I will share what I learned in the conference in these activities and organizations. Most importantly, I will be teaching chemistry for my college as a much more informed professor.