Introduction to Organic Chemistry is a one-semester survey of organic chemistry required for nutrition and dietetics, biopsychology, and environmental science majors at Messiah College. A multi-faceted approach has been taken to improve student interest, attitude, and learning in this traditionally challenging course. A survey of the majors supported by the course indicated that the departments want students to understand organic structures and to be prepared for upper level courses that include biochemical content. Thus, the lecture material has been tailored to include only the material most related to biochemical and environmental applications. Selected reactions and mechanisms are covered in depth concurrently with their application to real world concerns, promoting student learning by tying the content to their future career choices. Significant changes have also been implemented in the laboratory. Especially in lower-level service courses, students are quite persistent in their desire to merely follow directions in the laboratory to obtain “the answer” with minimal genuine understanding of the underlying chemical phenomena or even of the most fundamental nature of chemical compounds and solutions. To improve student learning in the lab, the lecture and lab have been much more closely tied together, with intentional cross-coverage, especially related to physical properties of organic molecules. The lab includes scaffolding of procedures with embedded questions for assessment of understanding. Additionally, the lab includes several student-designed procedures and group problem solving exercises. Extraction, solubility, and data analysis are also emphasized. With these changes, in the past two years, student retention and class dynamic have improved.

Improving student learning in a one-semester organic chemistry course

251st National Meeting (2016)

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