Active learning strategies engage students productively in the process of learning through problem-solving activities and discussions, over and above the routine method of listening passively to the instructor. This work highlights the redesign of a medicinal chemistry course by augmenting traditional lectures with active learning sessions in…

In this study, students' understanding of some important features of competitive elimination and substitution reactions of alcohols was examined based on their participation in a guided inquiry activity of two organic laboratory experiments: the dehydration of cyclohexanol and the conversion of tert-butyl alcohol into tert-butyl chloride. Students…

Studies suggest that active learning positively impacts the student learning experience. However, the supporting data are mostly aggregated across different demographic groups, and hence little is known about equity in active learning implementation and how it may vary across diverse populations and different instructional components. This…

The interdisciplinary nature of food makes it an effective teaching vehicle in many fields. This article shows specifically how flavor and food fermentation, two topics not usually featured in the undergraduate STEM curriculum, can inspire a powerful interdisciplinary learning experience. Importantly, because of their accessible nature and…

This paper describes the creation of a theme-based first quarter, of a two quarter sequence, general chemistry laboratory course following an argument driven inquiry format and employing specifications grading. The course contains four, two-week projects investigating the chemistry of a popular sports drink. The sugar content, dye concentration,…

In this work we discuss the implementation of a flipped active learning classroom model in large general chemistry classes at the University of Nevada, Reno. The flipped setup is detailed with survey results on student perception toward the design of a course. Although our recommendations were originally tailored to the online environment, the…

In pursuit of active learning and fostering conceptual understanding, educators and researchers have tirelessly endeavored to reshape the perception of chemistry, transcending its apparent barriers of technical jargon, semantics, and symbolism. One innovative approach that aligns with this mission is the integration of narratives into chemical…

Although active learning strategies are being incorporated into many higher-education STEM courses, not all students benefit from these activities to the same extent. As these types of activities are designed to engage students in their learning, differences in student engagement may explain some of the differences in learning outcomes. However,…

Pedagogical research over the past decade has shown that chemistry courses have high failure rates and low accessibility. The implementation of novel active-learning approaches has great potential to offset these trends. Fundamental concepts that serve as "pinch points" are ripe targets for designing innovative, gamified course materials…

Developing and exploring new tools to engage students in the learning process have been major foci of chemistry education research. Creative exercises are one such tool that has drawn increasing interest from researchers over the past decade. While studies have reported the impact of creative exercises on learning and types of student responses…

This report offers technical guidance and encouragement for any instructor or department looking to produce valuable, high-quality Lightboard teaching videos under space and budget constraints. Lightboards were introduced in a chemical education setting around 2015 as a presentation setup that allowed the presenter to speak face-to-face to their…

Reading and understanding scientific literature is an essential skill for any scientist to learn. While students' scientific literacy can be improved by reading research articles, an article's technical language and structure can hinder students' understanding of the scientific material. Furthermore, many students struggle with interpreting graphs…

Real-world applications can be potent tools in chemistry teaching, fostering highly beneficial learning for students. By involving students in real-world phenomena, we not only alter their perceptions of chemistry but also cultivate crucial chemistry competencies, preparing them for the future as scientists and citizens. In this report, we…

Digestion is a fundamentally important process for an individual's life. However, the physical process of digestion is hidden inside the body, making it challenging to understand and a particularly difficult topic for students to learn in the classroom. Traditional approaches to teaching body processes include a mixture of textbook teaching and…

Traditional laboratory courses involve students following detailed weekly experimental procedures, culminating in either a laboratory report or handout at the end of each experiment. While this setup teaches basic laboratory skills, it usually does not encourage students to think critically or independently. Therefore, many laboratory instructors…