Associate Professor, Chemical Education

B.S. 1988, Mount Allison University
B.E. 1989, Dalhousie University
M.A. 1994, Dalhousie University
Ph.D. 1998, Purdue University

Email: wjhunte@ilstu.edu
Phone: (309)438-7905
Office: 220 Julian Hall

Broadly defined, chemical education research involves studying either the teaching or learning of chemistry; although it is difficult to separate the two acts. This study can occur at a variety of levels (early childhood; primary, secondary, or tertiary; or adulthood) and in a variety of settings. My focus has been on three main areas: beginning teacher education and development, learning in the laboratory, and the use of technology in teaching chemistry. Given this, however, I view research as my opportunity to help students do what they want to do. If you have an interest in virtually any aspect of chemical education, I can help you to study the problem in a unique way which will benefit both you, I, and the wider community.

Beginning Teacher Education and Development
In general, I am interested in understanding the conditions under which beginning teachers of chemistry flourish when they enter the profession. This can be new school teachers, teaching assistants, or new faculty. In my research group we have studied preservice secondary school science teachers as they prepare to enter the profession. We have looked for the essential characteristics of their experiences that enable the teachers to succeed in the classroom. Currently, we are studying how curricular modifications are implemented by faculty in the university, and team-teaching in a secondary chemistry classroom.

Learning in the Laboratory
Chemistry is an empirical enterprise in which hands-on approaches are central to understanding the discipline and to developing the discipline. Studying how and what goes on in laboratory settings allows us to modify the chemistry curriculum to meet our goals. We have studied guided inquiry and discovery laboratories in the General Chemistry curriculum. We have determined some conditions under which student learning in chemistry can be enhanced. Right now, we are working on new demonstrations and laboratory exercises involving the Law of Conservation of Mass, and using photoelectron spectroscopy to teaching atomic structure.

Use of Technology in Teaching Chemistry
Everybody and their dog has a Web page. Even I. A few years ago we undertook the very first evaluation of how to use the Web to teach chemistry. Since that time our research group has been involved in developing applets and simulations for teaching chemistry via the Web. We are currently studying the use of CD-ROMs in conjunction with Web-based materials. Recently, we began work on an online teaching assistant service for General Chemistry.

Recently, my colleagues, students and I have received funding of over $1.9M from the National Science Foundation, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois State Board of Education, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, and the Central Illinois Higher Education Consortium to support these projects. The website for Teach.chem: The Illinois Chemistry Teachers Support Network is located at www.che.ilstu.edu/teach.chem and the NSF GK12 Fellows website is located at http://www.gk12.ilstu.edu/.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

K.E. Brown, A. Micklos, J.S. Carver, and W.J.F. Hunter, W.J.F., "A Teaching Plan for Introducing Gas Properties," The Chemical Educator. 9 (2004) 4.

F. Mumba, V.M. Chabalengula, C.J. Moore, J. Grogg, M. Plantholt, C. Thornton, and W.J.F. Hunter, "An Exploration of the Content and Nature of Reflective Practices of Graduate Teaching Fellows in a School–University Partnership Project," The Chemical Educator 8 (2003) 1.

J. R. King, W. J. F. Hunter, and L. F. Szczepura, "Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Novel Discussion Exercises for First-Year Chemistry Students," The Chemical Educator 7 (2002) 329-333.

W.J.F. Hunter, "Another Look at the Data: Tracking the Fish that Got Away," Illinois Science Teacher's Association, 27, 2.

Hunter, W.J.F., Carver, J.S., Marsiglio, B.P., Pennekamp, R., Jeans, K.M., & Shewfelt, E.."Online Chemistry Help Service in Non-majors General Chemistry.ConfChem: Fall 2001 On-line Chemical Education Conference on Online Teaching
Methods (www.ched-ccce.org/
confchem/2001/c/index.html).

Short, B.J, Carver, J.S., Hunter, W.J.F., & Young, J.R. (2001) Moments in constructivism: How does accepting failures allow us to examine our teaching? The Chemical Educator, 6, 5.

Hunter, W.J.F.. (2000) Chemistry teacher, teaching assistant, and faculty retention and development: Successes and frustrations, what have we learned about inducting beginning chemistry teachers in the profession? CHED, American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education, Winter, 2000.

Bodner, G.M., Hunter, W., & Lamba, R. (1998). What Happens When Discovery Labs Are Integrated into the Curriculum at A Large Research University? The Chemical Educator, 3,3.