Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 1211) Course Redesign at Augusta University

Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 1211) Course Redesign at Augusta University

Stephanie Myers, Angela Spencer, Cheryl Eidell, Jose Jimenez-Lugo, Jason Carr, Bobby Barker

Augusta University

At Augusta University, Principles of Chemistry I – CHEM 1211 is taught in multiple sections with different, often inexperienced, instructors. Thus, there has been substantial diversity in instructional rigor and high DFW rates. In an attempt to mediate the student issues of inequality and assist instructors, common exams were introduced in Fall 2019. Comparing Fall 2019 to Fall 2018, withdrawal rates fell from 30% to 11% and success rates increased from 41% to 65%. In an end-of-course survey students, on average, rather liked the exams (3.6/5.0) and felt that the exams reflected course content (3.8/5.0). Performance in CHEM 1212 appears unaffected.