Incorporating polymeric materials topics into the undergraduate chemistry core curriculum

Abstract

The undergraduate chemistry curriculum traditionally has emphasized small molecule chemistry, but recent studies and pedagogical efforts regarding the chemistry core curriculum have encouraged the inclusion of macromolecular topics in the core curriculum (1). However, this is problematic due to a scarcity of suitable curricular materials and faculty concerns regarding their own lack of formal training in the polymer area and the limited time available for them to learn about polymers. The National Science Foundation has funded a proposal from the POLYED Center at the University of WisconsinStevens Point that addresses these concerns.The project, entitled "Incorporating Polymeric Materials Topics into the Undergraduate Chemistry Core Curriculum", initially involved naming a team of five NSF-POLYED Scholars through the POLYED Center. The Scholars are college and university faculty with prior experience in the development of curricular materials for college chemistry courses and having a range of experience in the polymer area. They are Professors Guy Literature Cited 1. a) "Innovative Approaches to the Teaching of Introductory Chemistry" Proceedings of an ACS CPT, DiuCHED, and NSF Symposium at the Washington ACS meeting,

Synthesis of a Crosslinked Epoxy Resin Medallion in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory

“…Polymer chemistry is rarely introduced in K-12 science classes [1,2] aside from a discussion of plastics and recycling. Polymer synthesis may garner a brief mention in an undergraduate organic chemistry course, particularly in the context of polymerization reactions of alkenes, but polymeric materials are often overlooked in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum as a whole [3,4,5]. Recent guidelines for the ACS-certified undergraduate degree, approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS CPT) in 2015, include the preparation and characterization of polymeric materials [6].…”

Modules for Introducing Macromolecular Chemistry in Foundation Courses

“…27 Because many schools lack faculty with training in polymer chemistry, it is useful to have readily available modules for use in the classroom. 28 We describe here an approach in which topics of polymer chemistry are introduced as modules for courses in Structure & Properties and Reactivity. 29 These courses are part of a structure, reactivity, and quantitation curriculum in chemistry at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University.…”

“…Because many schools lack faculty with training in polymer chemistry, it is useful to have readily available modules for use in the classroom . We describe here an approach in which topics of polymer chemistry are introduced as modules for courses in Structure & Properties and Reactivity .…”