Students from diverse backgrounds arrive at the US Naval Academy (USNA) and enroll in what is commonly known as “Plebe Chemistry”, a two-semester chemistry course similar to those found at other undergraduate institutions. USNA educators are constantly working to improve the course and develop fundamental chemistry knowledge which will serve these future military officers. Recently, an Atoms-First (AF) curriculum was piloted and hypothesized to be an effective way to reinforce a particulate-level understanding of chemistry. To examine the validity, strengths, and weaknesses of an AF curriculum, a ParNoMa (Particulate Nature of Matter) assessment was given to a sample of AF students (N = 170) at the beginning and end of the semester. The students’ pre- and post-test results were analyzed in aggregate, and categorized by student achievement level, based on performance on a chemistry entrance exam. At the 95% confidence level, the AF students, as a whole, showed an increase in performance. In particular, the bottom- and middle-achievement students showed significant improvement in their ParNoMa scores. Additionally, five ParNoMa questions exhibited interesting and significant trends related to how students viewed melting/freezing compared to vaporization/condensation. These questions were analyzed in detail by achievement level because it was shown that not all achievement groups improved equally well on the phase change phenomena questions. Finally, free-response answers related to particulate-level diagrams or concept questions were analyzed (through coding) to evaluate student knowledge and identify misconceptions. Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, insights into how an Atoms-First curriculum improves student learning will be discussed.

Analysis of particulate-level understanding in an atoms-first course

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.