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A Change in Structure: Meaningful Learning and Cognitive Development in a Spiral, Organic Chemistry Curriculum

Grove, Nathaniel P.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1209601964

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Many students have described organic chemistry as a "killer course"; its purpose to prevent only but the most worthy students from continuing to professional school. To decrease high attrition rates and update course content, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Miami University developed and implemented an innovative, spiral curriculum for use in the year-long organic chemistry course for pre-professional students. This dissertation sought to better understand the difficulties students encountered in this spiral, organic chemistry curriculum and explored the strategies students developed to address such problems. A qualitative, case-study approach using interviews and reflective essays documented the experiences of 18 students as they progressed through the updated curriculum. The results of this inquiry revealed that many students made the decision not to utilize meaningful learning techniques and instead used rote memorization techniques as a proxy for learning. The factors that influenced these decisions were complex, but included such concerns as time-management problems, the perceived lack of relevance of organic chemistry, and decreased motivation. Furthermore, this inquiry discovered a dramatic gap between the level of cognitive development most students brought to the organic chemistry classroom and the level the subject required them to utilize.
Stacey Lowery Bretz, PhD (Advisor)
Roger Knudson, PhD (Committee Member)
Christopher Makaroff, PhD (Committee Member)
Jerry Sarquis, PhD (Committee Member)
Richard Taylor, PhD (Committee Chair)
Hongcai Zhou, PhD (Committee Member)
151 p.
Chemistry
chemistry education research; organic chemistry; spiral curriculum; qualitative research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Grove, N. P. (2008). A Change in Structure: Meaningful Learning and Cognitive Development in a Spiral, Organic Chemistry Curriculum [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1209601964

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Grove, Nathaniel. A Change in Structure: Meaningful Learning and Cognitive Development in a Spiral, Organic Chemistry Curriculum. 2008. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1209601964.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Grove, Nathaniel. "A Change in Structure: Meaningful Learning and Cognitive Development in a Spiral, Organic Chemistry Curriculum." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1209601964

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1209601964
943
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.