This is the second in a series of posts answering some frequently asked questions about the third edition of Joel Karty’s Organic Chemistry: Principles and Mechanisms. You can see the first post in the series here. This section covers questions from interchapter C through the end of the book. If you have any unanswered questions please … Continue reading FAQ About Joel Karty’s Third Edition: Part 2
FAQ About Joel Karty’s Third Edition: Part 1
This is the first in a series of posts answering some frequently asked questions about the third edition of Joel Karty's Organic Chemistry: Principles and Mechanisms. This section covers topics up to chapter 7, typically taught in the first semester. If you have any unanswered questions please ask them in the comments below. Why is … Continue reading FAQ About Joel Karty’s Third Edition: Part 1
Higher-impact Teaching of Mechanisms in Class: Next Level with Smartwork
Students learn most effectively when they engage earnestly in solving problems, and receive immediate assessment of their work while their thoughts are still fresh. That is why I moved to a flipped classroom years ago, where I have students prepare for each class by reading about a dozen assigned pages from the textbook. In class, … Continue reading Higher-impact Teaching of Mechanisms in Class: Next Level with Smartwork
Consistency is Key
When I talk to other faculty who are using the Karty book I find that we share a love of Chapter 7. In this chapter, the most common elementary steps are presented, those being proton transfer, biomolecular nucleophilic substitution, coordination, heterolysis, nucleophilic addition, nucleophile elimination, biomolecular elimination, electrophilic addition, electrophile elimination, and carbocation rearrangements. Every … Continue reading Consistency is Key
Looking Forward with the Third Edition
As an educator, part of my summer fun is thinking about ways to revitalize and improve my courses in the coming year. This summer, the arrival of the third edition of Joel Karty’s Organic Chemistry: Principles and Mechanisms is giving me a lot to get excited about. While I have always appreciated the mechanism-based approach to organic … Continue reading Looking Forward with the Third Edition
Polymers—That’s a Wrap!
I love finishing the year with a short dive into the dedicated chapter on polymers at the end of my textbook. In my case, I get to spend about two class periods on the chapter before the semester ends. That’s certainly not enough to do justice to every topic in the chapter, but it’s enough … Continue reading Polymers—That’s a Wrap!
Are pKa’s Necessary to Succeed in the Classroom?
While teaching chapters 17-18, I have shown students the versatility of carbonyls and enolate chemistry. The discussion in Karty’s book is arranged well and does a nice job of spotlighting the chemistry unique to carbonyls, especially as it ranges from selective addition (direct or conjugate) to the use of enolates for alkylation and halogenation. In … Continue reading Are pKa’s Necessary to Succeed in the Classroom?
A, B, C’s of Williamson Ether Synthesis
Williamson ether synthesis at the basic leave is rooted in the conditions of an SN2 reaction. However, students still struggle with the content. I have found myself trying to remind my class of the basics. I am quite fond of the Karty text, and have tried to compliment the book mechanics with some organically-flavored A … Continue reading A, B, C’s of Williamson Ether Synthesis
Nomenclature: Can It Be Taught alongside Mechanisms and Synthesis?
Oftentimes, when I talk with students, I compare the organic chemistry lecture series to a study-abroad experience: the first semester is when students learn the language, and the second semester is when they become immersed in the content. Within this dichotomy, I view nomenclature as a vocabulary-learning process (e.g., ketones, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and so … Continue reading Nomenclature: Can It Be Taught alongside Mechanisms and Synthesis?
How Do You Keep Content Fresh for Students While Also Maintaining the Integrity of Your Course?
For the professors reading this post, I am writing to gain some insight by asking for your advice. Even though I have been teaching organic chemistry for five years now, I still struggle with how to assess my students’ knowledge. When I was a student, we had a series of free-response/short-answer questions on our exams. I … Continue reading How Do You Keep Content Fresh for Students While Also Maintaining the Integrity of Your Course?