Chemistry (12). This project is building on the National Research Council's "Beyond the Molecular Frontier" to create a matrix based on four "ways of thinking" and four central, compelling questions that are then used to construct an innovative general chemistry curriculum for science and engineering majors. This curriculum is shifting the focus from learning a body of knowledge to understanding chemistry as a way of thinking. The learner-centered classroom and laboratory curriculum is also building on existing, exemplary materials developed by the NSF chemistry initiatives. Assessment tools embedded in the curriculum are being combined with a comprehensive evaluation plan that includes qualitative and quantitative measures. The combination of research university faculty and community college faculty from two campuses is allowing testing of the curricular materials among three diverse populations including substantial numbers of Hispanic and Native Americans students, contributing to the quality of the curriculum, and the broader impact of the project.
