Science + Education: Rebranding Organic Chemistry

Dr. Lou Charkoudian, a Professor of Chemistry at Haverford College, shares her wisdom for teaching and mentoring students through a notoriously difficult course: organic chemistry. Lou explains the relevance and importance of organic chemistry to our lives and unpacks why the course is so challenging for both students and instructors. She shares with us the various structures she’s implemented to set her students up for success and help them feel  supported throughout the learning process. Through her course design and approach to teaching, we learn that organic chemistry can be a fun, accessible, and conquerable subject if approached with a growth mindset. Prepare to be inspired, empowered, and to fall in love with organic chemistry, if you haven’t already.

Some helpful links:

Is Organic Chemistry Helpful for Basic Understanding of Disease and Medical Education?

STEM faculty who believe ability is fixed have larger racial achievement gaps and inspire less student motivation in their classes