@article{e4284e8ef77844a299ff23376ac90323,
title = "Increasing Chemistry Content Engagement by Implementing Polymer Infusion into Gatekeeper Chemistry Courses",
abstract = "Mastery of core chemistry content is a degree requirement for several STEM majors. Gatekeeper courses, like general and physical chemistry, have a history of weeding out struggling students, and often underrepresented groups underperform. While gatekeeper courses ensure students are prepared for STEM degrees, it is essential they do not create undue obstacles or dampen interest in STEM. This article describes the implementation and evaluation of efforts to infuse polymer science into a two-semester sequence of general and physical chemistry courses. Survey and focus group data revealed positive feedback from students. Also, improved student mastery of polymer concepts and knowledge was demonstrated in pre- and postassessments. Ultimately, these initial efforts provided students with additional foundational skills and increased engagement with chemistry content.",
keywords = "First-Year Undergraduate/General, Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives, Inquiry-Based/Discovery Learning, Polymer Chemistry, Polymerization",
author = "Avent, {Cherie M.} and Boyce, {Ayesha S.} and Richard Labennett and Taylor, {Darlene K.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by the National Science Foundation{\textquoteright}s Directorate for Education and Human Resources through the Historical Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program Target Infusion Project, Award 1623056. Funding Information: This recommendation from the ACS comes at a pivotal time for the Department of Chemistry at NCCU for two key reasons. First, the department is refocusing efforts to enhance teaching and research in materials science. One aspect of this endeavor is the development of an undergraduate curriculum in polymer chemistry. Polymer chemistry research is already becoming a productive mechanism for engagement within the department as evidenced the by successful solicitation for external funding and recent peer-reviewed publications. Second, the department has launched numerous approaches to support student success and increase retention and recruitment of majors. Together, this provided motivation for the current project, funded by the National Science Foundation{\textquoteright}s HBCU-Undergraduate Program Targeted Infusion Project (HBCU-UP TIP), to redesign introductory chemistry education at NCCU through the infusion of polymer science. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2018 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.",
year = "2018",
month = dec,
day = "11",
doi = "10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00288",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "95",
pages = "2164--2171",
journal = "Journal of Chemical Education",
issn = "0021-9584",
publisher = "American Chemical Society",
number = "12",
}