Our Department has become increasingly concerned that incoming students are often lacking a clear understanding of basic accountability and responsibility as well as lacking the cognitive, analytical and study skills necessary for their success. The reasons are unclear but may include the tendency of students to preferentially accumulate large amounts of information from the Internet, de-emphasizing the need to develop effective cognition and analysis. In preparing students for outcomes-based testing, secondary schools may over-emphasize content and overlook instruction in analysis. We have initiated a one-credit course that introduces students to the accountability and skills a B.S. in Chemistry requires. It utilizes demonstrations of cognitive processing and executive function in order to illustrate effective analysis and study skills. It also includes practical applications such as note taking, library research, Excel graphing, reading and writing proficiency. The hope is that retention and overall success of our students will increase as a consequence.

Chemistry experience: A course instructing incoming students in necessary skills and responsibilities

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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