Organic Chemistry Integrated Resource Package (O-ChIRP)

Project TitleOrganic Chemistry Integrated Resource Package (O-ChIRP)
Principal InvestigatorJackie Stewart
Co-ApplicantsAlthough the areas of scientific research are highly specialized, they all share a deep appreciation for investigating the mechanism of how things work. Within the Department of Chemistry at UBC, there are a multitude of research areas, including environmental chemistry, nuclear radiochemistry, and organic chemistry. These areas explore the interactions of the molecular world and their impacts on the industrial world, such as finding sustainable solutions for fuel systems, improving medical diagnostic tests, or developing pharmaceuticals.

Organic chemistry in particular is a multidisciplinary field of study (polymer chemistry, stereochemistry, etc) that requires a combination of specialized laboratory skills and an understanding of atomic behavior. To reflect this, the second year introduction to organic chemistry at UBC is divided into two courses; the laboratory (CHEM 235) and the lecture (CHEM 233). The laboratory component has a specialized UBC resource to complement the course, however, CHEM 233 currently does not. That is why we proposed the creation of an open resource, now known as the Organic Chemistry Integrated Resource Package (O- ChIRP).

The goal of the O-ChIRP is to provide students with an educational supplement alongside their lectures to help them engage with course material (example; UBC CHEM 121 eChIRP). This project was originally started by the Organic Chemistry Teaching Team when they recognized the need for an effective, interactive, and integrated resource tool. This project, once complete, will provide instructors with a shared resource to refer to during their lessons, and help with consistency across such a large multi- section course. We believe this resource will provide a clear academic framework of learning outcomes, ample review material, and practice questions to support long-term student success (Brame, C.J. (2015)).

The UBC PressBooks system is currently being used to develop this resource as it is a user-friendly platform that embraces the principles of Open Education and has the H5P extension. This will be used to integrate quizzes, videos, and animations for students. The current framework is set to include thirteen chapters with a variable number of sub-topics. Each sub-topic will include a set of “Check Your Understanding” questions that allow students to practice as they progress through the resource. The flexibility of this resource design means that students will be able to access all sections of the resource as they follow along with the in-person, online, or hybridized lectures.
Known for being a challenging course, CHEM 233 pushes students to think outside of their usual problem-solving methods. Our hope is that by having this resource, full of accessible videos, worked- solutions, and embedded practice questions, students will feel comfortable engaging with the material and grow to appreciate the mechanisms within the world of organic chemistry.
FacultyScience
Funding Year2021
Project SummaryShivani Mehta, Fourth Year Student, Biology, Faculty of Science
Jay Wickenden, Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
Grant type Rapid Innovation
Funded Amount $2,000