[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Instructional labs: Improving traditions and new directions.] This paper presents a historical analysis of the development, implementation, research, and assessment of an evidence-based introductory algebra-based physics course. The course is laboratory based and taught with an inquiry-based…

The impact of digital games on chemistry education has received less attention compared to other scientific fields. This research gap resulted in a limited understanding of how to effectively design mobile chemistry games (MCG) distinct from non-science mobile learning games (MLG). This study aims to explore students' attitudes toward MCG and…

This study observes two groups of high school students who were given different physics learning interventions. The first group (N = 35) learning physics with e-scaffolding in modelling instructions (LPE-MI),while the second group (N = 35) learning physics with modelling instructions (LPMI). This study investigates the influence of e-scaffolding…

Curiosity is an important driver of student's learning and school is a promising venue for promoting curiosity through social interactions between teachers and students. However, some research suggests that curiosity in school may decline with grade, perhaps due to educational practices (Engel, 2011). The current study assessed the frequency of…

Chemistry simulations using interactive graphic user interfaces (GUIs) represent uniquely effective and safe tools to support multidimensional learning. Computer literacy and coding skills have become increasingly important in the chemical sciences. In response to both of these facts, a series of Jupyter notebooks hosted on Google Colaboratory…

In all fields of chemistry, it has become essential to use quantum chemical calculations and machine learning for explaining and predicting chemical phenomena. However, it is challenging to apply textbook knowledge to practical research. In this study, we developed teaching material based on computational chemistry to promote the integration of…

Active engagement is critical to student success in Organic Chemistry. In this paper, I trace the trajectory of student engagement in an introductory organic chemistry lecture series over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. I detail my approach to cultivating student engagement in an online environment, evaluate the success of these approaches…

Organic chemistry is notorious for being difficult to learn. Herein we describe a two-pronged approach to engage students in the ability to afford successful knowledge building. We have drawn on focus group interviews with students to show that the approach is appreciated by the students. The two prongs comprise peer learning in small groups and…

Hands-on learning is a staple in high school science education, as it provides students with a fast-learning curve and a great degree of field competency. However, due to the safety risks associated with high school students in university chemistry laboratory settings, high school students rarely engage in authentic hands-on chemical learning. To…

Scientists have always been fascinated by transient far-from-equilibrium systems. Since the (early) 1970s, there have been literature reports on the implementation of didactic experiments as a tool for attracting and stimulating students' and general public interest. In this work, a group of 12 high school students, supported by their chemistry…

Ultrafast laser spectroscopy is a valuable and increasingly accessible technique for studies of rapid chemical reactions. Critical to ultrafast spectroscopy is the concept of mode locking, a technique that enables a fixed phase relationship between laser modes, resulting in laser pulses with very short duration (in the fs or ps range). Despite the…

The benzoin condensation of benzaldehyde is a staple of the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory, introducing the current topic of nucleophilic carbene organocatalysis. Our procedure makes notable improvements to current practice, including the elimination of solvent waste and an "18-fold reduction of reaction time." We have…

3D printers have facilitated a wealth of 3D printed molecular models illustrating key structural concepts for student learning. However, general adoption of 3D printed models in the organic chemistry classroom proceeds slowly as the majority of consumer-grade 3D (fused deposition modeling (FDM) and resin) printers are inherently monochromatic,…

Flame Emission Spectroscopy (FES) is a powerful analytical technique widely used for identifying and quantifying elements in various samples. In this laboratory experiment, undergraduate students were introduced to FES and its significance in analytical chemistry. The experiment aimed to provide students with hands-on experience in constructing…

A variety of methods have been used to analyze the kinetics of various processes related to the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment (also known as the soda geyser). However, none of these previous reports has undertaken a quantitative exploration of the dynamics of the creation and collapse of the soda geyser itself. We have therefore devised a method…