Recent calls for reform in K-16 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education not only emphasize mastery of content, but also call for students to engage in the scientific practice of making evidence-based claims, or scientific argumentation (National Research Council, 2012; NGSS Lead States, 2013). However, students often…

Many of the principles of organic polymer chemistry are direct extensions of the information contained in the standard introductory organic chemistry course. Often, however, the discussion of macromolecules is relegated to a chapter at the end of the organic chemistry text and is covered briefly, if at all. Connecting the organic-chemical…

The use of [superscript 1]H NMR spectroscopy to analyze the number-average molecular weight of a methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and an acetate derivative of this MPEG is described. These analyses illustrate NMR principles associated with the chemical shift differences of protons in different environments, NMR integration, and the effect of…

Small organic molecules offer a rich opportunity to discuss the interplay of chemical structure with properties such as the melting point and phenomena such as glass formation and can form the basis of fundamental considerations of structure-property relationships in macromolecules. Of particular importance are thermal transitions, specifically…

Laboratory experiments were developed to introduce students to the quantitation of drugs of abuse by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Undergraduate students were introduced to internal standard quantitation and the LC-MS/MS method optimization for cocaine. Cocaine extracted from paper currency was…

The nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction and thia-Michael addition using thiourea as an odorless, cheap, and easy-to-handle sulfur source in water are described, which can be used to teach upper-division undergraduates the role of thiourea in the formation of C-S bonds and the principles of green chemistry. The use of a cheap, nontoxic…

It has been recognised for some time by Science and Engineering departments that students are entering Higher Education illequipped in terms of their mathematical skills, despite having in many cases, attained good grades at Higher/A level (The Engineering Council 2000; Fry, Ketteridge & Marshall 1999; Score Education 2009). In an attempt,…

The author was invited to write this opinion piece following a presentation at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) conference on Methods in Education Chemistry Research related to translating creative teaching ideas and innovations into chemistry education research outputs. With a keen interest in learning and teaching and a solid training in…

This study examined the effect of learning by teaching on pre-service science teachers' attitudes towards chemistry. The method used in this study; learning by teaching, was developed by Jean-Pol Martin for foreign language classes and is frequently used in Germany. This method has been restructured over a 3-year process to be used in a science…

This study was designed to better understand how new chemistry graduate students develop a teaching identity as GTAs. Utilizing two complementary conceptual frameworks, Wenger's Community of Practice and Wortham's Social Identification, this study considered two cases of first year chemistry graduate students engaging in teaching for the first…

This research focuses on the informational value of submicroscopic representations (SMRs) in chemistry textbook sets for Slovenian primary schools (Grade 8 and Grade 9, students' age 13-15 years). For the purpose of analysis a holistic criteria related to the accompanying descriptors of SMRs in textbook sets was developed. The research revealed…

Tertiary institutions are experiencing an increased number of enrolments, with students varying in their demographics, previous education, and academic achievement. This relative increase in undergraduate enrolments in Australia has not translated to an increase in student retention or graduate numbers. This prompts the need to explore predictors…

Civic education is a moral development imperative of the Indonesian national curriculum and the United Nation's policy on education for sustainable development. It was within this context that we investigated the impact of ethical dilemma story pedagogy (EDSP) on student learning in a constructivist Indonesian STEM learning environment. EDSP uses…

In response to the closure of many university laboratories due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a handbook and remote webinar approach designed to support students in the use of software tools for computer-aided drug design has been developed. Specifically, the course has been designed for chemistry and pharmacy students who have little or no…

Purpose: This paper aims to report a case study in flexible learning with multicomponent blended learning mode in an undergraduate chemistry course. Traditional chemistry courses usually include lectures, tutorials and laboratory sections. For a course "Advances in Organic Synthesis" at undergraduate level, it consists of advanced…