Through the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP), I have taught liberal arts college chemistry courses to incarcerated men and women. Many of the challenges that are faced in a more traditional classroom - students with wildly different backgrounds, preparation, and interest in the subject matter; inadequate in-class time; and lack of resources – are amplified in a prison environment. Most of the students had “very little” interest in chemistry before beginning of the courses, yet responded very positively to the material. I utilized a variety of techniques to engage all students including emphasizing collaboration over competition, focusing on subjects of specific interest to the students (e.g., health & fitness, food & cooking, and sustainability), and creating a wide variety of assignments. Performance on exams was de-emphasized and students were given chances to combine their previous knowledge and expertise with their nascent chemistry skills. I will discuss the various strategies I used in the design of my courses, how I developed resources to enhance learning in a constrained environment, and the effect of the pandemic on prison education.

Teaching chemistry in prison: Pre- and post-pandemic

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

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