Invention:
This invention is an organic chemistry mobile app designed to improve students’ understanding and mastery of first year undergraduate organic chemistry reactions and their mechanisms.
Background:
In undergraduate organic chemistry, a student’s success hinges on a deep understanding of chemical reaction types and their mechanisms. For some students, organic chemistry proves to be a difficult subject, and can deter them from pursuing further studies in their chosen area. Since most undergraduates enrolled in organic chemistry are either seeking STEM degrees or are planning on enrolling in medical school, increased success in organic chemistry can lead to higher retention rates within the physical and medical sciences.
Mobile devices are increasingly more prevalent in education, with students often relying on these resources for help in completing assignments and learning new topics. While textbooks still have their place in education, the interactive capabilities of mobile technology allow a new kind of learning to happen. The instant feedback obtained from mobile software can enhance learning for some students, and the constant availability of mobile phones means this software can be accessed at all times. Combining mobile applications (apps) with organic chemistry learning can help students reach their goals of academic success in the classroom.
Advantages:
- Students get immediate feedback on whether or not they are grasping the material
- Larger scale synthesis problems are presented to allow the user to test their overall knowledge of organic chemistry reactions
- This app allows the user to easily search for chemical reactions based on their classification type and other characteristics
Applications:
- With students almost always carrying their phones and other mobile devices with them, undergraduates will be able to improve their skills, even if their textbook or notebook is not currently with them
- Professors who are aware of the mobile app can indicate which sections are relevant to the current course material
