Raising awareness about catalysis through public outreach digital platform

Myra B. Arnold*, Jackie R. Arnold*, and Cerasela Zoica Dinu
Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation No.: 118

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Social & Behavioral Sciences (Poster Presentations)

Student’s Major: Hospitality and Tourism Management, Anthropology

Educational videos are facilitating information and knowledge distribution. While technology through such visual form can enhance learning, it is important that its effective distribution is fully monitored for pertinent assessment of its impact. The goal of this research experience was to develop a YouTube channel for knowledge dissemination on catalysis. To achieve proposed goal, 6 animated lessons were recorded for a total video content time of about 100 minutes; conversational style doubled by enthusiasm were used to encourage listeners to directly integrate with presented information. Active learning strategies, guiding questions and pertinent, interactive animations were also embedded. Subsequently, a YouTube channel was developed, and lessons were actively posted; meta-analysis of the viewing and total access time are to be integrated to evaluate and monitor user access while a comments section is to be used for collecting feedback and recommendation. It is the vision that this developed platform would be seen as an active tool to promote active learning and user engagement.

Funding: National Science Foundation; 1454230

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other