General Chemistry Lab courses commonly are taught in a traditional format, in which the labs are presented 'cookbook' style where the students read the instructions and follow the directions to carry out the steps as written. We implemented a research based inquiry lab module on nanotechnology in our general chemistry II lab classes to increase students' engagement, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, technical skills and collaborative work. The student learning was assessed through pre- and post-lab surveys, pre- and post-lab tests and lab reports with pre- and post-lab assignments. Results indicated a significant improvement in the understanding of experimental techniques. According to survey data, students expressed an increase in confidence in understanding the experimental techniques, and 60% of students expressed that the overall experience with lab modules on nanotechnology was excellent. This project was supported by an NSF Targeted Infusion Grant #HRD-1436265.
