Advances in Teaching Organic Chemistry

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner

ACS Symposium Series

Based on a sympsoium from the 242nd National American Chemical Society Meeting.
Contains contributions from many experts on topics like curriculum reform, the lab experience, and engaging students in a more dynamic way.

Advances in Teaching Organic Chemistry

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner

Description

Unfortunately Organic Chemistry courses have often been seen as a gateway for weeding out students from various programs instead of a foundation course in constructing creative logic skills. Students approach these courses with a variety of attitudes that can affect their chances of learning. This text will incorporate studies on new teaching methods and their level of success as well what we know works to promote student learning and what does not. The text will also consider what variables control student achievement in an organic chemistry course and how well the concepts taught really correlate to the outside world. This symposium text will seek to illuminate the latest trends as well as some tried and true methods for teaching organic chemistry at both large and small institutions. This book is based on a symposium held at the 242nd National American Chemical Society Meeting in Denver, Colorado on August 20, 2011. There were 16 oral presentations given and many lively discussions were held. The symposium was very well received and there was a strong interest in how different instructors approach teaching this topic and how things will evolve in the classroom as we move forward.

Advances in Teaching Organic Chemistry

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner

ACS Symposium Series

Preface
1. Discovery-Based Labs for Organic Chemistry: Overview and Effectiveness
Norma Dunlap and Leah J. Martin
2. A Decade of Undergraduate Research-Inspired Organic Laboratory
Renewal
Andrew P. Dicks
3. Fluorophores, Fluorescent Polymers, and Energy Transfer in an
Undergraduate Laboratory Setting
Mindy Levine and Patrick Marks
4. Introducing Scientific Writing in a Second Semester Organic Chemistry
Laboratory Course
Allison A. Schmitt and James A. Parise
5. Engaging the Masses: Encouraging All Students to "Buy Into" the Organic
Chemistry "Program"
N. E. Schore
6. Use of Neural Scaffolding To Improve Comprehension of Organic
Chemistry in a Supplemental Instruction Setting
Connie Gabel, Dustin Politica, and Rosemarie Walker
7. What's Wrong With Carbonyl Chemistry?
Scott T. Handy
8. Predictability of Organic Chemistry Students' Final Course Grades Using
Four-Week Averages
J. T. Wasacz, K. A. O. Pacheco, and J. O. Schreck
9. Historical Examples Integrated into the Organic Chemistry Curriculum
Kevin M. Bucholtz
10. Blending Organic and General Chemistry: A Unified and Holistic
Curriculum Reform Effort
David P. Cartrette and Matthew L. Miller
11. Revamping a Second Semester Organic Course To Meet the New ACS
Biochemistry Requirements
Jetty Duffy-Matzner and Jared R. Mays
12. Enabling 21st Century Student Success in Undergraduate Organic
Chemistry
David P. Pursell, Joseph C. Sloop, Richard L. Pennington, Julia B. Paredes,
Mai Yin Tsoi, and Sonal Dekhane
13. Using Short Videos To Supplement Lectures on Reaction Mechanisms,
Organic Spectroscopy, and Polymer Chemistry
Arno Kraft, Emma S. Rankin, and Valeria Arrighi
14. Podcasting in Organic Chemistry
Michael D. Mosher
Editors' Biographies
Indexes
Author Index
Subject Index

Advances in Teaching Organic Chemistry

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner

ACS Symposium Series

Author Information

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado, and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner, Department of Chemistry, Augustana College

Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner is affiliated with Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Kimberly A. O. Pacheco is affiliated with the University of Northern Colorado.

Advances in Teaching Organic Chemistry

Edited by Kimberly A. O. Pacheco and Jetty L. Duffy-Matzner

ACS Symposium Series

Reviews and Awards

"The subject matter is of wide relevance and this book presents a variety of ideas to avoid the organic chemistry experience being a 'marathon of memorisation' and instead allows learners to develop the confidence and interest to overcom the challenges associated with understanding this subject." - Claire McDonnell, Education in Chemistry