This active learning pedagogical technique aims to improve students' learning in a two-semester, upper-division biochemistry course sequence in which the vast majority of students enrolled will continue on to medical or graduate schools. Instead of lecturing, the Instructor moves to the side of the room, thereby becoming "the guide on the side".…

A fourth-year capstone course offers students an opportunity to integrate topics covered in the core disciplinary courses, to learn an advanced interdisciplinary topic, and to approach unfamiliar problems and literature. This article describes a fourth-year capstone course designed to incorporate components of faculty lectures, student seminars,…

Mass spectrometry is a widely used and versatile tool for scientists in many different fields. Soft ionization techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) allow for the analysis of biomolecules, polymers, and clusters. This article describes a MALDI mass spectrometry experiment designed for students in introductory…

Reports on a survey that focuses on the content coverage of general chemistry courses for science and engineering majors, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, as reported by leading U.S. colleges and universities. Findings indicate relatively minor changes in content since a previous study conducted in 1986. Discusses shifts in content…

Summarizes four recent documents that identify what is deemed essential in chemistry at grades 8 and 12, including: Benchmarks for Science Literacy Project 2061; 1994 National Assessment of Educational Progress; National Science Education Standards; and Scope, Sequence, and Coordination of Secondary School Science. Identifies areas of agreement…

Conducted a survey to determine the variety and availability of college-level environmental chemistry course offerings in the United States. Reports that 45% of all responding institutions offered an environmental chemistry course within the chemistry department, 24% were contemplating offering such a course, and 53% of responding institutions…

Explores specific places where a component of ethical decision-making can be incorporated into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum and the effect on students' moral development. Presents several case studies. (SAH)

Discusses issues related to teaching about orbitals in beginning chemistry courses. Lavoisier's rule, Lewis's orbitals, Pauli's principle, the physics related to chemical concepts are examined. The American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training's position on these issues is briefly addressed. (JN)

Explains the reason that chemistry of carbon using principles of bonding, thermodynamics, and kinetics is considered a better introduction to organic chemistry than conventional use of interconversions. (DS)