Enhancement of Students' Practical Skills in Analytical Sciences through Small Private Online Course (SPOC) in FutureLearn

Chemical education typically includes lectures that teach students on a specific subject (i.e., knowledge) and laboratory classes that equip students with hands-on experience of the subject taught in lectures (i.e., practical skills). However, regarding the practical skills, it can be difficult for students to thoroughly understand the operations and make connections between the lectures and laboratory classes, since the respective principles are separately taught in the lectures while the procedures are merely demonstrated in laboratory classes. Therefore, we have produced 10 videos on the operations of different basic practical skills in analytical sciences developing as a small private online course (SPOC) in FutureLearn. Students can first watch the videos as pre-lab with simple trueor- false-based assessments and discussion forum to understand the operations filling up the gap between the lectures and laboratory classes, and finally get the practices in the laboratory classes. With such of blended learning approach, it is expected that students' practical skills will be enhanced. Meanwhile, students are provided with an opportunity that they can learn alongside their peers. This presentation will outline the designs and applications of the small private online course (SPOC) in FutureLearn and present the outcomes of success to enhance student learning effectiveness.