Dr. Benda Torres

Chemistry Lab Coordinator

How is Brenda engaging students in the classroom?

Brenda prepares her Introduction to Chemistry lab students for experiments by creating videos that introduce the lab work before class. These videos are meant to enhance student confidence in conducting the actual experiments during class. To keep students involved, Brenda incorporates quiz questions into the videos.

In a collaborative effort, Brenda engages graduate students in video production, offering them practical experience in teaching the material. This not only assists Brenda in preparing her students but also provides valuable training for the graduate students, who take on teaching roles in the labs.

What do students think?

As a result of Brenda's video preparation for lab work, students enter the labs feeling more prepared and confident about successfully conducting experiments. Students appreciate the ability to pause and rewind the videos as they prepare their experiments and work on chemical formulas.

During the pandemic, the availability of these videos created a smooth transition to online learning for the Introduction to Chemistry course. Brenda has also noticed improved grades, highlighting the positive impact of the video resources on student learning and success.

What’s Next?

Brenda is planning to provide her graduate lab assistants with an ACUE credential to further enhance their ability to effectively lead her Undergraduate Chemistry labs.

Want to Know More?

UTEP Resources

The UTEP InSPIRE creative team is ready for consultations and collaborations to bring instructional videos into your classroom.

UTEP's Learning Studio is equipped for live streaming and recording lectures and demonstrations.