9450701 Spencer Chemists investigate problems important to society in teams that apply chemical concepts and modern technologies to answer challenging questions. We propose to restructure the first two years of chemistry so that all students experience directly how chemists do chemistry. We will develop, test, and implement theme-based courses that start with important interdisciplinary problems and use open-ended group projects to apply chemical principles and techniques to their solution. Relevance, learning chemistry by using it, and a cooperative learning environment will better serve students with diverse learning styles and the non-scientists, pre-professionals, and other science majors who comprise the vast majority in those first two years. Interdisciplinary themes will require continuing contact with other disciplines and with scientists in industry and government. Restructuring will require better articulation with curricula in related disciplines and in the sequence and content of upper-level chemistry courses. The participating liberal arts colleges (Beloit, Carleton, Colorado, Grinnell, Hope, Kalamazoo, Knox, Lawrence, Macalester, Rhodes, St. Olaf, Wooster) and research universities (Chicago, Washington - St. Louis) already have experience working together on chemistry curricular reform. By collaborating with Project Kaleidoscope, they will be able to involve a much more diverse group of schools in making systemic and sustainable changes in undergraduate chemistry education.
