Given the plethora of methods used to teach our courses, it is often difficult to find a niche that works with all students. Organic Chemistry, being the "stepping-stone" course for pre-medical students, chemistry students, biology students, etc. is no exception.
Beginning the sophomore level Organic Chemistry course with orbital theory followed by electron flow has been highly successful in getting introductory material to students and maintaining high levels of retention as the course proceeds. The course does not focus on "functional group" chemistry, but looks at where electron density is located in the orbitals, and how electrons flow to form and break bonds.
Using this methodology, all the differing areas of organic chemistry may be easily covered, while maintaining a nice connectivity between topics throughout the entire year-long course.
Integration of this material into the Organic Chemistry Course curriculum, along with specific topics covered, will be the basis of this talk.
Back to Symposia: Chemical Education - Rethinking Organic Chemistry
Back to The 33rd Northeast Regional Meeting (July 14-17, 2005)