Enabling 21st Century Student Success in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry instructors at a newly founded four-year college have integrated 21st century handheld technology and applications into the organic chemistry class and lab experience, in an effort to further engage students and increase content and skill mastery. The technology and applications enable instructors to implement a philosophy of teaching and learning known as the Thayer method. In this method, students prepare before class and lab; their preparation is supported by a detailed course syllabus and materials available in multiple media formats - textbooks, e-books, videos, electronic flashcards, and content applications (apps) - all of which are easily accessible via computers and mobile devices. Because students come to class and lab already familiar with the fundamentals of the concepts to be covered, the instructor is free to focus specifically on topics and problems as dictated by the students. This helps maximize the efficiency and engagement of the student-instructor contact time, and allows the students to become active participants, rather than passive observers, in the class. In this way, the substantial improvement in student preparation before class and lab (the underlying premise of the Thayer method) goes hand in hand with the improvement of student comprehension and mastery of the material. Student and faculty response to this novel 21st century approach to undergraduate organic chemistry has been overwhelmingly positive, and research efforts are ongoing to determine impact on student learning. An early result is that over 90% of students successfully complete the two-semester organic chemistry class and lab sequence.