Organic chemistry is a two-semester course (Organic Chemistry I, SCC 251 and Organic Chemistry II, SCC 252) required for majors in Biology. The SCC 251 course has been designated for the Integrative Learning Core Competency as well the Digital Communication Ability. This course emphasizes the synthesis, structure, reactivity, and mechanisms of reaction of organic compounds. Laboratory stresses various organic synthetic and analytic techniques (distillation, extraction, chromatography and spectroscopy).
This lab provided an opportunity for students to go deeper with the chemistry content by correlating to the concepts they learned in General Chemistry courses such as Valence shell electron pair repulsion theory (VSEPR), resonance, polarity, dipole moment, acid-base reactions, mole concept, thermochemistry and chemical kinetics. In addition, for the experimental part, applying the techniques such as qualitative analysis of ions, filtration, melting point, optical spectroscopy, and molecular modelling. This lab was performed at the end of the semester when students are familiar with basic organic techniques such as distillation, crystallization, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography--techniques they learned previously in this lab. Overall, this lab was designed to develop critical thinking and integrative learning skills while introducing students to the porphyrin and green chemistry concepts. This experiment illustrates the several principles of green chemistry and is easily extendable to introduce topics in other chemistry courses such as NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C and 19F NMR), material chemistry, click chemistry, coordination chemistry and environmental chemistry.
Learning outcomes that can be assessed using this lab include an understanding of laboratory procedures (methods and techniques), safety hazards, and instrumentation, understanding of concepts and theories gained by performing the experiment, collecting data through observation and/or experimentation (TLC and column chromatography), interpretation of the data (percent yield, UV-vis spectra), drawing conclusions and perspective of the experiment. The knowledge students gain during this process will be useful to connect with future chemistry courses and can also be utilized to do research.
LaGuardia‰Ûªs Core Competencies and Communication Abilities
Main Course Learning Objectives: Based on the principles and methods of green chemistry concept, students will be able to develop the ability to analyze and evaluate organic chemical reactions and processes. Gather, analyze, and interpret experimental data and graph the UV visible spectra using Microsoft excel. The ChemDraw program is used to increase classroom experiences in the preparation of high quality chemical drawings. This software is used to draw and submit chemical compound. ChemDraw Professional can also be used to predict properties, generate spectra, construct correct IUPAC names, and calculate reaction stoichiometry.

This assignment titled “My Interdisciplinary Perspective on Climate Change” was developed in Fall 2020 as the signature assignment of the STEM Learning Community LC50 for students enrolled in the Biology program of the Natural Sciences department, at LaGuardia Community College, CUNY. The assignment targets Integrative Learning and Global Learning Core Competencies, and Digital/Oral Communication Abilities.
For this STEM Cluster, “Climate Change” is the shared theme that connects learning from the different disciplines and helps build students’ overall knowledge on an imperative issue that our planet currently faces. Work on this assignment entails a narrated digital student presentation on the various aspects of Climate Change such as causes, global effects and manifestations, and possible remedial solutions or suggested actions. Students also practice summarizing the research and learning on this theme from the various courses undertaken in the first semester.
The main goal of this signature assignment is to make connections among the ideas, experiences and learning acquired among the different courses, assignments and co-curricular activities of this semester that contributed to the students’ understanding of this global phenomenon. This high-stakes assignment is worth 20% of the final grade in NSF 101: First Year Seminar for Natural Sciences (program-core course). Students are guided by all four instructors of the Learning Community, which comprises of the courses- NSF 101, MAT 115: College Algebra and Trigonometry, ENG 101: Composition I, and HUC 106: Public Speaking, through a 12-week scaffolded process to complete work and showcase their findings as a well-informed Biology major and responsible citizen of society. This assignment meets the NSF101 learning objectives and helps the students to hone their skills on the targeted Core Competencies (Global/Integrative Learning) and Communication Abilities (Digital/Oral), thereby increasing their chances of being successful in the subsequent 200-level classes of their major.
LaGuardia's Core Competencies and Communication Abilities
Student artifacts were deposited for this assignment at the end of the semester for college-wide Benchmark Readings 2021, and the Fall 2020 Learning Communities Seminar (as the LC assignment). Due to the serious COVID-related situation in New York state in Fall 2020, including high incidence of the disease and the associated challenging and technical issues at some students’ end, more emphasis was placed on helping the students learn how to prepare a digital presentation embodying their work on science, data analysis, writing and communication skills, while incorporating elements of integrative and global learning from all four classes on Climate Change. However, when the assignment is implemented again in the future, both Digital and Oral Communication Abilities will be fostered in all student work. It is noteworthy that some students managed to cover both these abilities in their work in Fall 2020 also.

This Research Paper Assignment is designed for NSF & LMF courses (STEM majors). The assignment is to have students research a global scientific issue. Possible topics that work well for this assignment contain solar panel use, the increase in health issues (like respiratory or mental health conditions) due to global warming/climate change, animal (and other living organism) extinction (or increase) due to global warming, sea level rise, coastal flooding, how the increase in ocean plastics affects the ocean and its species (which affect the environment/climate), etc. However, any global scientific topic will do.
The assignment's main objectives are to scaffold the overall research paper to improve students Inquiry and Problem Solving (IPS) and Global Learning (GL) competencies.
The IPS competency is scaffolded with 2 CER worksheets that help students analyze their research sources using the Claim Evidence Reasoning and Rebuttal (CER) method, which they will utilize in LaGuardia's Natural Sciences Courses. The CER method is the Scientific Method, which uses more everyday language. For example, instead of being asked to formulate a hypothesis, students generate a testable claim. By convention, this method is referred to as the CER Method. However, I include the second, and write CERR Method, to remind students to include possible contradictions, challenges, and/or rebuttals to experiments they do and while researching studies in scientific journals and from other sources.
Additionally, there is a worksheet with prompts that ask students to reflect on the 3 dimensions of the Global Learning Competencies, based on their research topics, to enhance students ability with this competency.
Students are expected to work on these worksheets throughout the semester. The worksheets are due, at different times throughout the semester, before the final paper is due. Ideally the first worksheet is due the fourth week of lecture, typically 1 to 2 weeks after the first library visit. The second and third worksheets are due the 6th and 8th week of lecture, respectively.
The first two worksheets are the same CERR method worksheets. Students will complete one worksheet for each of the 2 articles they must use for their research.
To further help students organize and engage with what they learn from their research, students are also required to complete a 3-5 minute Power Point presentation. The in-class presentation is due at least a week before the final paper is due, either the ninth or tenth week of the semester. This is a great opportunity for the entire class to share what they learned and to give each other feedback about the organization, content, and overall delivery of each other's research before the final paper is due.
There is a presentation guideline and grading rubric that is to be discussed before the presentations; it is better to discuss the rubric with the class at least a week before the presentation is due. Students have the grading rubric and a grade sheet for each presenter so they can score each presenter and write down notes to give feedback to the presenters. I collect the score sheets to view how students evaluated each other's presentations and as proof of participation during presentation day. However, the score sheets do not affect the students' presentation grade. Having students fill out the score sheets is an in-class activity meant to keep students focused on the presentations. Students are required to give presenters feedback, and/or ask questions, to earn "Class-Participation" points for the day; students may lose up to 2% of their total grade for each lecture they do not participate in.
The final paper is also outlined for format and content, which is like the presentation guideline and worksheets. The paper outline further describes, and specifies, the types of information to include in each section of the research paper. The point of this document is to prepare students for what their own papers and lab reports should include as they progress with their classes. The final paper is due 1-2 weeks after the presentation is due, which is the 11th or 12th week of the semester. The worksheet component of this assignment is worth 10% of the grade. The two CERR worksheets are worth 3% (6% for 2 worksheets). The Global Learning Worksheet counts toward 4% of the final grade. The Power Point Presentation is worth 5% and the final paper is also worth 5%. The research assignment totals 20% of the final course grade.

A. Scavenger Hunt Description This Scavenger Hunt Assignment is designed for the First Year Seminar for Natural Sciences (NSF 101) and the First Year Seminar for Liberal Arts: Math and Science (LMF 101) (STEM majors).The main objective of this assignment is to familiarize students with their campus and its resources, to encourage students to collaborate with each other, and to be aware that the scientific method is applied to solve any problem, not just scientific issues. It is meant to address the Integrative Learning Core Competency. Students are given the entire class time (at least two hours) to complete the assignment. For LMF sections, I often add more clues, because the class runs for an additional hour. I have the students report back to class, so we can discuss and share their experiences and explain the follow-up Lab Report Reflection. For LMF sections the discussion is after the 2 hours allotted for the clues. The NSF section discusses the Scavenger Hunt and follow-up Lab Report Reflection the next class following the Scavenger Hunt group activity. The Lab Report Reflection is due the week following the discussion, but students may hand it in before the due date. The Reflection is written as a STEM lab report/abstract format, using the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning, & Rebuttal (CERR) method, which is used within the Natural Sciences Dept. for all STEM classes. The CER method is the Scientific Method, which uses more ordinary language. So instead of making a hypothesis, students make a testable claim. I write CERR method, which includes the second, to remind students to include possible contradictions, challenges, and/or rebuttals to experiments they do, and the research they find reading scientific journals. This assignment is worth 5% of students' total grade, 2.5 % for the actual hunt and 2.5% for the reflection. I do not take off points for students that complete the hunt alone because they were absent. The penalty is having to do the assignment on their own time.

This assignment was used in a Public Speaking course where students learned to build a variety of public speeches. The assignment aims to enable students to make connections to experience, to reflect and self-asses their learning. In line with the integrative learning core competency, they are also encouraged to make connections between and among academic disciplines. At the same time, it gives them the opportunity to broaden the possibilities for connections in their analyses, allowing them the ability to adapt & apply learning across diverse contexts.
LaGuardia‰Ûªs Core Competencies and Communication Abilities
Main Course Learning Objectives: Students demonstrate their ability to criticize speeches Students reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses as speakers

The General Chemistry 1 (SCC 201) course has been designated for the core competency of Inquiry and Problem Solving along with the Written Communication Ability. These abilities are best observed in the laboratory section of the course where SCC 201 students are asked to submit weekly written lab reports that range in chemistry topics from chemical structures to the chemical analysis of polluted environments. SCC 201 will be implementing a new experiment in the laboratory portion of the course entitled, "Thermochemistry: Heat of Neutralization and Hess's Law. The design of the experiment incorporates many elements of LaGCC's Core Competencies and Communication Abilities, as well as programmatic and course learning objectives both on the departmental and college levels. Natural Sciences major STEM students who successfully complete the thermochemistry lab and write a corresponding satisfactory lab report, will have engaged in two of the program goals, four of the student learning objectives and seven of the course objectives (Please refer to the assignment). The SCC 201 course lies in the midpoint Core Competency program curriculum map for both the Biology and Environmental Science programs and accounts for 3.5% of the final SCC 201 grade. Students will spend 3 hours completing the experiment in lab and in addition spend an estimated 3-4 hours completing the lab write-up. This lab was developed in the Natural Sciences programmatic integration CTL mini-grant seminar. The creation of the lab involved an initial discussion with members of the chemistry programmatic team to outline a common theme between SCC 201, SCC 202 and SCC 251. It was agreed upon that the central topic of thermodynamics would be implemented throughout the designated labs.
LaGuardia's Core Competencies and Communication Abilities

Main Course Learning Objectives:
The General Chemistry 1 (SCC 201) course has multiple course learning objectives, which articulate key introductory chemistry concepts that all STEM students should possess. In particular, the Newtown Creek titration experiment aligns with SCC 201 learning objectives of: Demonstrate an appreciation of the role of chemistry in various aspects of life Perform basic laboratory skills such as the proper execution of titration techniques Describe and explain the fundamental chemistry concept of solution concentration Analyze and represent experimental data in tables and graphs, interpret experimental results and write laboratory reports
In the SCC 201 laboratory, students are asked to complete the experiment and then use the data to write a formal written lab report, which consists of an introduction, materials, methods, results, discussion and conclusion. The student work serves as an excellent artifact under the Written Communication Ability, which is designated for the SCC 201 course. In addition, the Global Learning Core Competency is incorporated in the Newtown Creek titration experiment, where students are asked to measure the chloride concentrations from the Superfund site. After calculating and determining the chloride amounts, students are prompted to discuss the impact of the findings on the Newtown Creek site and furthermore the surrounding environment on both a microscopic and macroscopic level. For example, students are asked to compare the chloride concentration values to the standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and to address the implications of the pollutant on existing plant life and people who reside near Newtown Creek. The responses from students show the success in meeting the dimensions of the Global Learning Core Competency. The SCC 201 course lies in the midpoint of the program curriculum map for both the Biology and Environmental Science programs and this laboratory assignment accounts for 3.5% of the final SCC 201 grade. LaGCC STEM major students will spend 3 hours completing the experiment in lab and as well spend an estimated 3-4 hours completing the lab write-up. The Titration of a Newtown Creek Environmental Water Sample to Determine the Amount of Chloride Ions experiment was developed as part of the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI). Additionally, this work was workshopped in an assignment development charrette during the 2018-2019 CTL Mini-Grant Global Learning Sub-seminar.
LaGuardia‰Ûªs Core Competencies and Communication Abilities

This assigment was developed in the context of LaGuardia's Center for Teaching and Learning sponsored Learning Matters mini grant Connection Between First Year Seminar and Capstone Learning Experiences. It provides Liberal Arts experience to students across the academic spectrum and is designed for students in LMF 101 (First-Year Seminar for Liberal Arts: Math & Science) and is conducted in conjunction with students from a capstone course, LIB 200 (Science, Technology, and Humanism). The assignment aligns with the Inquiry and Problem-Solving Core Competency and the Written Ability. In this assignment, LMF 101 students research and read several articles centered on the topic of Women in STEM. They then write an essay that integrates the information from these sources to address the history, biases, and potential causes of the underrepresentation of Women in STEM. LIB 200 students peer review these essays, and LMF 101 students, in turn, respond to these peer reviews. The assignment concludes with a combined class discussion on the topic and the process. The overall goals for this assignment which also reflect the dimensions of the Inquiry and Problem Solving Core Competency and the Written Communication Ability rubrics are the following: Students will utilize the appropriate library search engines to find a resource relevant to a particular topic. Students will analyze and integrate evidence from multiple sources on a complicated topic, and they will use the evidence they gathered to answer questions and arrive at logical conclusions. Students will assess the reliability of data and/or claims made in the literature. Students will cite sources appropriately. Students will understand the importance of peer review, understand how constructive criticism can help improve scholarly work, and learn how to respond to feedback in ways to improve the outcome of their work.
LaGuardia's Core Competencies and Communication Abilities
Main Course Learning Objectives:
LMF 101 Course Goals Associated with Assignment: Demonstrate understanding of habits of mind essential to college success (e.g., persistence, flexibility, and metacognition) and foundational knowledge in mathematics and science. Interpret the values and ethics of mathematics and science and discuss how these values and ethics directly influence personal, academic, and professional success in their careers. Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and logic of technical writing; show a basic level of proficiency in the fundamental writing, reading and speaking skills necessary to deliver information in a contextual and coherent manner. Demonstrate the use of skills and knowledge gained from diverse experiences to enhance learning and success. Describe the diversity of LaGuardia Community College and demonstrate capacities to collaborate across differences in culture and perspective.
LIB 200 Course Goals Associated with Assignment Identify the terminology and concepts central to the field of gender and women‰Ûªs studies students. Identify and understand the challenges and the historical frame of the underrepresentation of women across STEM fields. Research and value the contributions of women to STEM fields. Examine and interpret material using the theory and research methods of gender and women‰Ûªs studies and apply these ideas to current social issues. Present ideas concerning gender and women's studies in spoken and written presentations.