Research shows that there are multiple benefits to giving college students oral rather than written exams. However, studies that examine, describe, and differentiate how students view their oral exams were never found in a literature search. The purpose of this study was to use Q methodology [Q] to describe the divergent student views about taking…

Students need a strong understanding of how to represent chemical compounds in order to succeed in organic chemistry. This project set out to gain a better understanding of students' difficulties with symbolic representations, by identifying the specific errors associated with drawing wedge-dash structures. The focus was on how students…

Student self-assessment surveys were utilized to look at student study habits in several areas. Both self-reported study time and study methods were explored. Surveys were given to students after they received their graded exams. In a comparison with the federal definition for a credit hour (2 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class),…

A lateral flow assay was designed and optimized as an independent study project that aimed to develop an assay for the qualitative detection of troponin assay. Lateral flow assays (the classic example being a pregnancy test) have the advantage of being rapid, specific, and user-friendly. They are composed of an absorbent pad, a nitrocellulose…

Interest in the gender gap in the physical sciences has been ongoing for a number of years. This study aimed to explore differences in gender based on self-perception. The use of a post-examination survey was used to examine the role of gender in grade perception in chemistry courses over a several-year period. This included courses for…

This article describes the implementation of a student-generated open educational resource project into a majors' organic chemistry laboratory. This scaffolded semester-long project was organized into six phases and designed to promote the goals of teaching students about both green chemistry and real-life applications of the reactions covered in…

Student motivation within a STEM course is dependent on their perceived relevance and utility of the topics learned. This paper presents an Informative Utility Value Intervention (IUVI) designed to promote perceptions of utility. The IUVI was designed as a series of assignments for general chemistry students in large lecture courses, but the…

There has been an increase in the number of studies about educational scenarios aimed at promoting argumentation. Special attention is given to scenarios involving case studies. In this article, we report on the application of an interrupted case study to develop argumentation skills supported by information and communication technologies. The…

Mixed results have been reported on the correlation between clickers and performance. This study investigates the usage of clickers in a voluntary context to answer in-class questions in a General Chemistry class. Scores on an internal chemistry placement exam were used to estimate cognitive ability, as a factor that students can no longer…

First-year undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a GOB (general, organic, biological) Chemistry for Health Professions course often exhibit an initial apprehension in their chemical education. Due to students' varying backgrounds in chemistry, it becomes difficult to engage them in chemistry and gauge their comprehension of lecture concepts.…

Redox reaction is a core concept in teaching and learning chemistry. This article explores a new method for balancing organic redox reactions that requires the balancing of both atoms and charges. The H+, O, H[subscript 2]O, and e- are used as balanced vehicles in two half reactions. A non-oxidation number approach can be applied to both molecular…

Pedagogical approaches for supporting students' argumentative writing in science laboratories have not been fully established. This article examines the development of argumentative abilities in undergraduate students enrolled in chemistry laboratory courses that employed two teaching sequences: (i) an argumentative writing workshop for conceptual…

There is a growing need for college science faculty to teach a diverse group of learners. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can be used to create inclusive learning materials and activities in the higher education science classroom. A UDL Academy introduced science faculty to the UDL framework, which led to them implementing UDL in…

Despite the intrinsic interdisciplinary nature of STEM, teaching interdisciplinarity in the classroom is difficult and students struggle to find the applicability of concepts and skills in different scientific disciplines. In this work we propose a micro-credential "badge" system called Demonstrated Understanding of Core Knowledge (DUCK)…

The incorporation of evidence-based practices into the classroom increases achievement and retention of students in STEM. However, the effectiveness of these practices depends on the degree to which faculty are knowledgeable about the strategies and implement the strategies in their teaching. This study investigates the familiarity, adoption, and…