Student motivation is critical for successful Chemistry Olympiad programs at all levels of competition. This talk includes personal experiences within the local, national and international competition, including my role as mentor for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Georgia (2016), Thailand (2017) and in Bratislava and Prague (2018). This talk will focus on the nature of competition, which can lead to increased student learning and performance, yet must be approached with caution. A delicate balance between competition, learning and excitement (and yes, even fun) is mandatory in order to engage students without overwhelming them with scientific knowledge. Fostering scientific education, communication and international collaboration among these young scholars are all part of the training regimen. These fundamental goals of the Chemistry Olympiad must be a guiding principle when developing a curriculum to prepare this generation of active-learners. Development of training programs at all levels of the competition must include creative instruction to ensure that students will remain mentally and emotionally motivated to learn and engage in academic competition. This talk will discuss training practices used at the United States National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) camp and beyond.

Chemistry Olympiad training: Finding balance between scientific education, motivation and excitement

2019 Spring National Meeting

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