This preliminary, retroactive analysis was done to identify the effects of team-based learning and incorporation of diverse scientist experiences on student sense of belonging and course success in an introductory biology course. Faculty members worked closely with the Office of Institutional Research to make data-informed pedagogical decisions,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift from traditional in-person teaching to remote and online learning, necessitating a more adaptable educational platform to serve the diverse needs of students. Transforming hands-on "wet lab" activities into virtual "dry lab" exercises can promote a more accessible and flexible…

Upper level chemistry electives provide an opportunity to integrate modern interdisciplinary topics into the chemistry curriculum. One such elective is Food Chemistry, a course first taught as part of a Common Read program. The course has changed over time to incorporate activities designed to illustrate the connection between food and chemistry…

As undergraduate biology curricula increasingly aim to provide students with access to courses and experiences that engage them in the practices of science, tools are needed for instruction, evaluation, and research around student learning. One of the important skills for undergraduate biology students to master is the selection and creation of…

A spreadsheet project that enables students to construct chemical potential vs temperature plots, [mu](T), of liquid and gaseous mercury and all three phases of diiodine and ammonia is presented. Statistical thermodynamics is used to determine the entropies of the substances in the gas phase. For the solid and liquid phases, students start with…

DNA Barcoding is a powerful molecular biology tool for the identification of species, analysis of gene flow from within and between populations and evaluating species concepts. The process can be incorporated into a college genetics or bioinformatics core curriculum. Here we demonstrate how, by simply using Plecoptera, we actively engaged students…

A method to synthesize biaryls through the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction using a recyclable fluorous precatalyst is described. This laboratory experiment, which demonstrates the safety benefits of green chemistry, is integrated into an upper-division course. Besides simply using the catalyst for a reaction, students can reuse the catalyst…

Evolution is controversial among students and religiosity, religious affiliation, understanding of evolution, and demographics are predictors of evolution acceptance. However, quantitative research has not explored the unique impact of student perceived conflict between their religion and evolution as a major factor influencing evolution…

Student-centered teaching has become increasingly common in higher education as researchers have demonstrated its efficacy in recent decades. Herein, we hope to establish an efficient problem-based learning (PBL) method, which can help upper-division students learn organic chemistry content by combining teaching materials, experimental literature,…

Techniques from the branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning (ML) have been applied to a wide range of problems in chemistry. Nonetheless, there are very few examples of pedagogical activities to introduce ML to chemistry students in the chemistry education literature. Here we report a computational activity that introduces…

An experiment in teaching students to use the literature to devise and defend a plan for novel research is presented as part of a graduate-level course in heterocyclic chemistry. Students in three successive iterations of the course completed an assignment during which they were assigned novel heterocyclic cores that were selected by varying or…

Quantitative literacy is a foundational component of success in STEM disciplines and in life. Quantitative concepts and data-rich activities in undergraduate geoscience courses can strengthen geoscience majors' understanding of geologic phenomena and prepare them for future careers and graduate school, and provide real-world context to apply…

This work describes the implementation of a hierarchical team model, the Integrated Peer Leadership Program (IPLP), in a calculus-based college introductory physics classroom. Using this model, in which students in the course engage with their peers throughout the semester, we observe a significant increase in the students' likelihood of…

Adaptive learning is an educational method that uses computer algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to customize learning materials and activities based on each user's model. Adaptive learning has been used for more than 20 years. However, it is still unique, and no other system could bring more or even similar capabilities than the ones…

Acid-base titration laboratories are perennially offered to general chemistry students in preparation for summative assessments of their hands-on and quantitative skills in the field. Here, we present a guided inquiry-based activity focused on total titratable acidity (TTA) as alternative to standard "cookbook" titration laboratory work.…