The presentation of chemistry by an experiential approach can be particularly exciting for non-science majors. To a large extent, the teaching of science concentrates on the early mastery of factual material before the students are allowed to explore the interesting problems. The approach used in this course reverses this traditional pattern. Students are first presented with a series of exciting experiments and are allowed to experience the excitement of chemistry.  Once their curiosity has been aroused and ask, �Why?�, they are ready to begin to work with the underlying chemical principles.  Students in Experiential Chemistry work in the laboratory each day to develop an understanding of: the process of doing chemistry, the nature of chemists and chemistry, and the question asking, experimentation and communication skills essential for the practice of chemistry.  The experiences, class discussions, and writing assignments give non-science students a unique and exciting introduction to chemistry.

Experiential chemistry: A unique laboratory course for non-majors

245th National Meeting (2013)

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