Functional group analysis is an essential part of the curriculum for identifying unknown organic compounds. However, traditional methods of analyzing functional groups use excess reagents and generate a large amount of waste material that is difficult to dispose of. This work is focused on alternative methods for detecting functional groups such…

General chemistry courses serve as foundational curriculum within most STEM undergraduate curricula, and hence, it is essential to assess student knowledge and application of learning outcomes for courses such as Introduction to Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Within the United States, paper-and-pencil examinations are typical for measuring…

A structured series of activities has been designed and implemented to promote analysis and data reporting skills for second-year organic chemistry students. Student report sheets were developed to assist students in reporting necessary data for their compounds. A series of rubrics have been utilized by students to promote metacognition and by…

To potentially engage students in "doing organic chemistry", organic chemistry courses should foreground weaving together structure- and energy-related ideas to construct causal accounts for phenomena. Here, we investigate whether enrolling in an organic chemistry course that places substantial emphasis ([approximately]50% of total…

Understanding reaction mechanisms is integral to success in organic chemistry; however, prior research suggests that learners struggle with recognizing the importance of underlying implicit features in reaction mechanisms. Because of this struggle, understanding how learners' reason about reaction mechanisms and developing assessments to elicit…

In this study, a new competency assessment system was developed for the blended learning course "Organic Chemistry Laboratory". The system utilized a mastery transcript evaluation model and incorporated the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy and Primary Trait Analysis (PTA) scale method. With this system, students…

Powerful arguments have been made recently to advocate for the introduction of systems thinking in chemistry education to equip graduates to address sustainability challenges. This contribution describes systems thinking activities and an assessment tool that enables meaningful learning in first-year organic chemistry as students engage with the…

Nitrate is a crucial parameter for assessing water quality, owing to its dual function in ecological systems. These functions can be beneficial or detrimental depending on whether nitrate concentrations are low or high, respectively. The ultraviolet spectrophotometric method (standard as 4500-NO[subscript 3]--B) is a classic method for determining…

Practical skills in chemistry are considered an essential outcome of an undergraduate chemistry degree. To achieve this, chemistry curricula are designated a substantial number of hours in teaching laboratories. However, the general method of a summative assessment of these sessions is through a written laboratory report and not through the actual…

Chemistry students are passionate about using their learning to contribute toward a sustainable future, yet they feel unprepared to make green and sustainable practical decisions informed by industry-relevant tools. Most green chemistry metrics are mass-based, which do not estimate environmental impact or help address global socioeconomic…

This paper describes an innovative method to evaluate students' learning after teaching the topic of stereochemistry using molecular models in an organic chemistry course for second-year pharmacy students at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. This method is practical and relevant and directly measures the intended learning skills. It is…

This study details the efforts taken in remotely teaching a large organic chemistry lecture course in the midst of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The course lectures were taught synchronously via Zoom and student feedback was gathered regarding effective teaching strategies and assessment tools in a remote course setting. The precourse and…

COVID-19 has besieged academic institutions worldwide. As countries closed their international borders and imposed lockdowns, faculty have faced unprecedented challenges in finding alternative modes of teaching and assessment as replacements for the traditional face-to-face classes. In this piece, we describe the journey of the chemistry…

A systems thinking approach to incorporating green chemistry and safety into laboratory culture is vital, as chemists will be at the molecular level of the innovative solutions to our global challenges. Training chemists to have the skills and culture to accomplish this feat in the safest way possible is pivotal to safe working conditions within…

This communication describes a variety of virtual student assessment strategies employed at the University of Toronto during the academic disruption caused by the 2020 COVID-19 global pandemic. Instructors focused their efforts toward maintaining a positive learning environment and offering meaningful evaluation methods for students in each of…