Boot Camp To Improve Student Perception and Performance in Sophomore Organic Chemistry? Hoorah!

Abstract

The sophomore organic chemistry sequence (Organic I and II) has a reputation: one that has prospective students worried. Their anxiety is well-founded, given estimates of the national success rate (defined as a grade of "C" or better) of 50-75%. In an attempt to improve both student success and student opinions about chemistry, we implemented a one-week "boot camp" (preparatory) course that we called Preparing for Organic Chemistry. This course reviewed the concepts of general chemistry required for success in Organic Chemistry I and II. We found improvements in student opinion of Organic Chemistry I (both before starting and after taking the course). Further, we have found that the boot camp had a measurable and statistically significant impact on student success rates.

Department(s)

Chemistry and Biochemistry
Information Technology and Cybersecurity

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00963

Keywords

second-year undergraduate, curriculum, organic chemistry, analogies/transfer, multimedia-based learning, testing/assessment, enrichment/review materials

Publication Date

2017

Journal Title

Journal of Chemical Education

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