The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented event that, out of necessity, drastically changed the way undergraduate chemistry courses were taught. With the cancellation of in-person classes, laboratory experiences were delayed and/or moved to the virtual space, the latter keeping the general framework of the laboratory experiment but removing the…

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…

The start of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a change in the way chemistry education was delivered across the globe. As we emerge from the pandemic we can start to assess the medium to long-term impact it has had. In this study, we evaluated the teaching methods used by the UK Higher Education chemistry community over the past two years through the…

In spring 2020, the chemical education community faced an abrupt transition from in-person to online classes, which also necessitated online assessments. Building upon an existing three-semester study (F17, S19, and F19) using Rasch modeling and classical testing theory to improve in-person multiple choice exams, this study investigates the impact…

A Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) experiment appropriate for an upper-level undergraduate laboratory such as chemical instrumentation is described. Students collect FTIR spectra of four protio-solvents and their deuterated analogues. In addition to qualitatively observing C-H and O-H peaks shift to lower energy upon deuteration, students apply a…

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and catalysis represent two of the most practically relevant topics in chemistry, but they are normally taught in separate contexts at the undergraduate level. Although IR spectroscopy is introduced to students as a tool for organic compound characterization, it also finds wide applicability in the investigation of…

Chemistry is increasingly data centric and the undergraduate curriculum needs to adjust to keep up. To address this, we created the "Air Quality Activity," a new first-year undergraduate activity where students use Microsoft Excel to analyze a unique subset of atmospheric ozone (O[subscript 3]) and nitrogen dioxide (NO[subscript 2])…

In the sciences, the laboratory is one of the most impactful spaces for student learning, engagement, and experience. Prior knowledge gleaned during lecture and laboratory discussion (i.e., a course section designed to further emphasize conceptual content underlying experiments and inform students about laboratory procedures or safety precautions)…

Laboratory research experiences can be an important part of the training process for STEM professionals, but barriers exist that can prevent broad access to these opportunities. Virtual Research Group (VRG) modules, which use data curated from the scientific literature to simulate aspects of the research process, provide a scalable alternative to…

The process of method development is at the heart of analytical chemistry, yet direct experimental experience with the process is rarely taught in the undergraduate laboratory. We report here an experiment that uses rapid, safe, and inexpensive paper-based microfluidics with cell phone detection in order to facilitate the development of a…

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 led to a widespread transition from traditional face-to-face instruction to remote learning during the 2020-2021 academic year. The lack of in-person instruction posed unique challenges, particularly for students transitioning from high school to college, exacerbating existing educational…

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education. In these circumstances, technology aided learning by providing new ways of teaching and communicating with students. In this work, we report the online activities carried out in the Basic Organic Chemistry virtual course of the Chemistry Department at UNS (Argentina) for first-year students of the…

Chemical education laboratory practices have not been exempted from the present healthcare crisis. Learning environments have shifted from face-to-face exercises to virtual and video conferencing platforms. Here, we discuss a chemistry for health sciences course which (i) adapted the previous face-to-face laboratory exercises to 100% online using…

The Remote Supergroup for Chemistry Undergraduates (RSCU) is a community of students and faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions that aims to (1) engage students in discussions of chemical research, (2) inform students of further educational and career pathways, (3) increase awareness and discourse of equity issues in science, and (4)…

This review examines the evolution of tertiary undergraduate chemistry teaching from 2019 to 2023, including in response to the global pandemic's impact on teaching and learning methods and whether those adaptations have persisted. The authors assessed the current educational landscape against standards set by leading accreditation bodies, the…