Friday, 5 November 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered via Zoom – Please email chemistry.researchsupport@sydney.edu.au for zoom link and password.

Speaker: Associate Professor Alison Flynn; University of Ottawa

Host: Professor Siegbert Schmid

Title: Studies on student learning in a new organic chemistry curriculum designed to deepen understanding of reactivity and chemistry principles

Abstract: Chemistry education research has revealed numerous challenges students face learning organic chemistry, including barriers learning chemistry’s language, interpreting, rationalizing, predicting mechanistic processes and driving forces, and limitations in curricula connecting organic chemistry to broader contexts. In this presentation, I will more deeply describe these challenges, explain our efforts at addressing these challenges with a redesigned curriculum, share our associated research findings, and suggest possible uses of research findings in courses.

Biography: Alison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and the Associate Vice-Provost – Academic at the University of Ottawa. She is a 3M National Teaching Fellow, Canada’s highest recognition for excellence in education at the post-secondary level, and a member of the Global Young Academy. She recently received the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Award for Chemistry Education and is co-recipient of uOttawa’s Transition to Online Learning Leadership Award. Her work includes developing online learning tools as Open Education Resources to support student learning, including OrgChem101, a Growth & Goals Module (course-integrated FR, EN; course-independent FR, EN), and eBooks on remote teaching for educators (FR, EN) and TAs (FR, EN). Her research group studies student learning in organic chemistry and the impacts of the Growth & Goals module. At the provincial level, she has been a Director on eCampusOntario’s Board. At the National level, she is the Canadian Society for Chemistry’s past Director of Accreditation and the inaugural associate editor for chemistry education research with the Canadian Journal of Chemistry. In all her work, she is committed to helping students succeed in their chosen careers and goals.

Alison thinks about students’ learning… a lot! When not doing that, she plays ultimate, kayaks, camps, bikes, skis, coaches a little soccer and hockey, and has a great time with her family.