MIT has fully embraced the power of the internet to educate outside the walls of its lecture halls. It offers anyone with an internet connection the ability to watch lectures from a large variety of classes through its OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative. However, they have taken it a step further this year, and present the travails of a small cohort of chemistry freshman as they learn basic fundamental lab techniques in a crammed 4-week laboratory course. The top students in the class will be offered an opportunity to do research with a faculty member.

In many ways this is a smart program. It’s a nice way to make sure that undergrad researchers have basic skills before they ever step into a research lab. Below I’ve included their trailer and episodes 1 and 2 for your viewing pleasure. New episodes can be found at ChemLab Boot Camp as they get placed on the web.

More info: http://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/chemistry/chemistry-lab-boot-camp/

Trailer



Episode 1: Great Expectations



Episode 2: Overwhelmed



It should be fun seeing how this pans out.

Mitch